News Headline
Hero ISL opening promises to be a spectacular visual extravaganza
MUMBAI:The Salt Lake Stadium in Kolkata will be the epicenter of Indian and global football fans alike as the inaugural season of the Hero Indian Super League kicks off there on 12 October 2014.
The entertainment packed proceedings will be telecast starting 6 pm on eight channels of the Star network and also be aired on www.starsports.com, whereas the on-ground entertainment will start 5:20 pm onwards.
The sheer footballing quotient aside, Kolkata citizens and Indian football fans alike will be treated to an eye catching visual extravaganza at the grand opening ceremony.
Kicking off the grand opening ceremony will be a performance by 200 children (100 boys and 100 girls) between the age group of 12 – 14 years and 100 dance performers, wherein over 600 illuminated footballs will be used as props. The performance by the children will culminate in a dramatic formation of the ISL logo. Around 160 Indian musicians with eight musical maestros will also set the stage alight at the Salt Lake Stadium to some melodious Indian music.
Next up will be a quick video montage highlighting the International and Indian footballing talent on display over the duration of the inaugural season of the Hero ISL. Post which taking center stage would be West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, who will declare the inaugural opening ceremony open.
Immediately post which the Hero ISL will pay a brief tribute to the “Blazing Feet Of Indian Footballing Legends”, the Golden Era of football in India 1951-1962 with shots from the Asian Games of 1962. Then taking center stage at the Salt Lake Stadium will be a tribute by eight musical maestros representing each of the eight participating teams and regions, who will be accompanied nearly a 160 musicians. Representing Kolkata at their home venue will be Bickram Gosh, while percussionist extraordinaire Sivamani will play for Chennai. Similarly, Aslam Dafrani will represent Delhi, while Bondo and Taufiq Qureshi will represent Goa and Mumbai respectively. Adding to the atmosphere will the Chenda players representing Kerala, the Manipuri dhol players from the North East and Puneri dhol players representing Pune. All of whom will be accompanied by 160 lezim players.
The highlight of the grand opening ceremony will be a special performance by Bollywood Diva and international pop icon Priyanka Chopra, accompanied by Salim Merchant of the Salim and Suleiman famed duo. Chopra will then set the stage alight performing with all the eight musical maestros and dance performers, who will also sing an original compilation later.
The ceremony will then come to a close amidst fantastic fireworks, with a special rendition of the League anthem being performed by Salim Merchant.
The minister of youth affairs and sports, Sarbananda Sonowal would also be present at the event along with other dignitaries including AIFF president Praful Patel, Star India CEO Uday Shankar. Celebrity owners of the participating teams present at the event will include Abhishek Bachchan (Chennaiyin FC), Varun Dhawan (FC Goa), Salman Khan (FC Pune City) and John Abraham (NorthEast United FC) along with Saurav Ganguly (Atletico De Kolkata), Sachin Tendulkar (Kerala Blasters FC) and Ranbir Kapoor (Mumbai City FC).
Following the inauguration ceremony, the first match of the Hero ISL will be played between Atletico de Kolkata and Mumbai City FC, locking horns against each other on the field.
The ceremony and the inaugural match of the Hero Indian Super League Season 2014 will be telecast on Star Sports 2 (English), Star Sports 3 (Hindi), Star Sports HD 2 (English), Star Gold (Hindi), Star Utsav (Hindi), Asianet Movies (Malayalam), Jalsha Movies (Bengali) and Suvarna Plus (Kannada). Furthermore, it would also be aired on www.starsports.com.
Tickets to the opening ceremony and first match of Hero ISL are priced between Rs 200 to Rs 2500. Tickets can be booked online at www.indiansuperleague.com. Tickets are also available at Salt Lake Stadium box office.
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.
