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Atletico De Kolkata gains a principal sponsor in Aircel
MUMBAI: With the football fever catching up in the country with the Hero Indian Super League (ISL), Kolkata franchise Atletico De Kolkata gained its first principal sponsor in Aircel. Sports management company Nimbus Sport, advised the two companies on their partnership.
Atletico De Kolkata team co owner Sourav Ganguly commented, “It is great to see corporate like Aircel coming forward and showing its commitment towards promoting sports in the country. We are very happy that they are with us now as principal sponsors and I am sure it is just the start of a lasting and rewarding relationship.”
Nimbus Sport COO Sunil Manocha said, “The partnership will be a game changer in the sports marketing landscape in India and represents the first large commercial partnership by a mainstream brand with a football team in India and will usher in a new era of sponsor investments into teams in India. Nimbus has been at the forefront of bringing brands with a vision, closer to the sport and had advised Liverpool FC and Xolo smartphones, on their celebrated partnership earlier this year. As a part of our strategy for sustained focus on football, we are our working on bringing two leading European clubs to India to play friendly matches in the summer of 2015.”
Aircel chief marketing officer Anupam Vasudev said, “Aircel is a new age brand focusing on youth. Passion, agility, energy and youthfulness are the attributes which define this sport, which are also a part of Aircel’s DNA – being one of the young fastest growing telecom players in India. We are pleased to associate ourselves with Atletico De Kolkata which is the biggest team of ISL with a large dedicated region spanning entire Eastern and Central India and Bangladesh. With Players, Coach, Technical and Brand Integration with La Liga Champions, Atletico De Madrid, we hope ATK will be the frontrunner to win the first edition of ISL.”
The Aircel logo will be used on the front of team jersey and training kits under the current sponsorship arrangements.
RP Sanjiv Goenka group chairman and co-owner Atletico de Kolkata Sanjiv Goenka added, “We are delighted to have Aircel as the principal sponsor for Atletico de Kolkata and welcome them on-board. We look forward to working with them. The decision was made easy as there are definite synergies in our vision for Atletico de Kolkata. This association symbolises a shared dream of creating a successful brand and a world–class franchise.”
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.
