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Star Sports launches array of shows
MUMBAI: The new campaign by Star Sports wasn’t all that the channel had in its kitty when it announced the launch of six new channels. The network has now launched a slew of new shows: Star Power, Heroes, Masterclass and Hockey Hotshots, aiming at inculcating habit of schedule amongst the sports fans in the country.
Commenting on the launch of new shows, Star India head of sports business Nitin Kukreja said, “The consumption of sports till date has been limited to big live events. We however, would like to engage more deeply with passionate sports fans. Therefore, we are embellishing our live content with a range of new shows and formats. This move is a critical step forward in creating a compelling experience for multi-sports fans who want to watch their favourite sports live and also want to have access to the best of non-live sports programming.”
Shows at glance…
Star Power – A definitive destination for sports fans for comprehensive updates and insights. The show helps passionate viewers to get deeper into the game. The half-hour show went on air from 6 November and is broadcast live twice a day at 8 pm and 10.30 pm on Star Sports 3.
Heroes – The 13 episode series will showcase star cricketers in a never seen before format, interacting with select children from the age group 8-15 years. The innocent questions and the conversation thereby between the players and the children make the show really interesting. It brings forth traits of the players which have never been explored before. The first show of Heroes featuring Sachin Tendulkar will be aired on Children’s day (14 November) at 7:00 pm and 10:00 pm. The show will feature eminent cricketers including Virat Kohli, Suresh Raina, Rohit Sharma, Shoaib Akhtar, Harbhajan Singh, Shikhar Dhawan, Ravindra Jadeja , Dinesh Karthik , Kumar Sangakkara, Bhuvneshwar Kumar and Cheteshwar Pujara. Heroes will be aired every Saturday at 8:30 pm on Star Sports 3.
Hockey Hotshots: A weekly hockey show that will bring an Indian hockey star under the spotlight in each episode. Each show will tell the story of its star in terms of his achievement for Indian hockey, his unique skill sets and his significance for the future of Indian hockey.
Hockey Hotshots will focus on ‘Match Winner’ V.R. Raghunath the mercurial drag flicker and player of the tournament in the recently concluded Asia Cup. ‘The Wall’ under the bar P. Sreejesh, vice-captain and adjudged the best goalkeeper of Asia Cup. Mandeep Singh – considered by many experts as the most promising central striker of world hockey. Manpreet Singh, Captain of the junior Indian Hockey team, an Olympian at 19. Ramandeep Singh – ‘The Play Maker’ a selfless player who keeps the team before self. Sardar Singh- One of the best mid fielders in the world, a true master of his craft he is considered as one of the most skilful players of modern hockey. Hockey Hotshots will be broadcast every Saturday at 9:00 pm on Star Sports 3.
Masterclass –A half an hour weekly show in both English and Hindi language, Masterclass will focus on highlighting individual techniques adopted by Star Cricket players which made them legends of the game. The show will involve physical demonstrations of various aspects of the game. Icons like Sourav Ganguly, Rahul Dravid, Sunil Gavaskar, Kapil Dev and Navjot Singh Sidhu will discuss in detail intricacies of cricket for the benefit of sports fans. The 13 episode series will be showcased in English on Star Sports 1 and Hindi on Star Sports 3.
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.
