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Amul is the official sponsor of the Indian contingent to the Rio 2016 Olympic Games
NEW DELHI: Food products marketing organization Amul is the official sponsor of the Indian contingent at the Rio 2016 Olympic Games.
The contract was signed by Indian Olympic Association Secretary General Rajeev Mehta and Gujarat Cooperative Milk Marketing Federation (Amul) MD R S Sodhi today.
In 2012, Amul sponsored the Indian contingent at the London 2012 Olympic Games.
Amul has earlier been an avid supporter of various sporting events, may it be the Asian Games, Commonwealth games or other sports.
To be inaugurated on 5 August 2016 in Brazil, the Rio Olympics will play host to the largest Indian contingent ever, with close to 100 sportspersons being a part of it.
Amul aims to engage with youth and leverage the connection between the energy of milk and sports. It is the main ingredient for the fitness of any sportsman. Hence it is an appropriate association for Amul.
Amul will launch a series of advertising campaigns for milk and various dairy products to promote this association in the coming months.
Amul has embarked upon an “Eat Milk with Every Meal” campaign to highlight the importance of milk and dairy products like cheese, yogurt, butter, ghee, paneer etc. in the daily diet. Amul Doodh Pita hai India, one of Amul’s most loved campaign, will be used to cheer the Indian contingent. India is the largest producer of milk in the world and Amul is not only India’s but Asia’s largest milk brand.
Sodhi said, “Amul is committed to strengthening the Olympic movement in India and encourage young generation from all over the country to take up Olympic sports. I take great pleasure and pride in announcing our sponsorship of the Indian contingent to the Olympic Games Rio 2016”.
Explaining the foundation of this association, he said milk is nature’s original energy drink and plays a pivotal role in building the physical and mental strength of the athletes. Nutritious dairy diet is an important part in the diets of athletes around the world.
Participation in Olympics is the aspiration of every athlete and with the kind of investments made by our country in this arena to select, nurture and train the best athletes, we are confident that Indian contingent will deliver the best ever performance in the Olympic games and make our country proud. Further, he said that this association will help in engaging the kids and youth so that they can enjoy a healthy life.”
Mehta added, “I would like to thank Mr RS Sodhi and Amul family for coming on board as the sponsor for our Indian contingent for Rio Olympics. I am happy that Amul family is supporting Indian Olympic Association from past sometime. The preparations for our athletes are in full swing and till date more than 100 athletes have qualified for Rio Olympics, this is the largest ever contingent we are sending to Olympics”.
NEW DELHI: Hamdard Laboratories gathered a cross-section of India’s achievers in New Delhi on Friday, handing out the Hakeem Abdul Hameed Excellence Awards to figures who have left their mark across healthcare, education, sport, public service and the arts.
The ceremony, attended by minister of state for defence Sanjay Seth and senior officials from the ministry of Ayush, celebrated individuals whose work blends professional success with a sense of public purpose. It was as much a roll call of achievement as it was a reminder that influence is not measured only in profits or podiums, but in people reached and lives improved.
Among the headline awardees was Alakh Pandey, founder and chief executive of PhysicsWallah, recognised for turning affordable digital learning into a mass movement. On the sporting front, Arjuna Awardee and kabaddi player Sakshi Puniya was honoured for her contribution to the game and for pushing women’s participation onto bigger stages.
The cultural spotlight fell on veteran lyricist and poet Santosh Anand, whose songs have echoed across generations of Hindi cinema. At 97, Anand accepted the honour with characteristic humility, reflecting on a life shaped by perseverance and hope.
Healthcare honours spanned both modern and traditional systems. Manoj N. Nesari was recognised for strengthening Ayurveda’s place in national and global health frameworks. Padma shri Mohammed Abdul Waheed was honoured for his research-backed work in Unani medicine, while padma shri Mohsin Wali received recognition for his long-standing contribution to patient-centred care.
Education and social development also featured prominently. Padma shri Zahir Ishaq Kazi was honoured for decades of work in education, while former Meghalaya superintendent of Police T. C. Chacko was recognised for public service. Goonj founder Anshu Gupta received an award for his dignity-centred rural development initiatives, and the Hunar Shakti Foundation was honoured for empowering women and young girls through skill development.
The Lifetime Achievement Award went to former IAS officer Shailaja Chandra for her long career in public healthcare and governance, particularly in the traditional systems under Ayush.
Speaking at the event, Hamdard chairman Abdul Majeed said the awards were a tribute to those who combine excellence with empathy. “These awardees reflect Hakeem Sahib’s belief that healthcare, education and public service must ultimately serve humanity,” he said.
Minister Seth struck a forward-looking note, saying India’s young population gives the country a unique opportunity to become a global destination for learning, health and wellness by 2047.
The ceremony also featured the trailer launch of Unani Ki Kahaani, an upcoming documentary starring actor Jim Sarbh, set to premiere on Discovery on 11 February.
Instituted in memory of Unani scholar and educationist Hakeem Abdul Hameed, the awards have grown into a national platform that celebrates those building a more inclusive and resilient India. For one evening at least, the spotlight was not just on success, but on service with substance.
