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Zoom TV to telecast India Padel Open finals on 24 Nov from 3 pm
MUMBAI: Padel lovers are in for a treat come 24 November. The finals of the FIP Promotion India Padel Open are to be held at the Padel courts of Bennett University in Greater Noida from 3 PM onwards. The tournament is India’s first-ever international Padel event sanctioned by the International Padel Federation (FIP) and is organised by Padel League Pvt Ltd (a subsidiary of PTL Sports Group) with support from The Times Group and featured various international athletes representing countries such as Spain, Japan, Netherlands, France, Italy, and Iran, alongside top Indian talent.
The finals will be telecast Live on Zoom TV and live-streamed on FIP’s YouTube Channel.
The women’s final of the four day tournament features Ainize Santamaria Landa and Aitana Solan Domenech (Spain) against Kotomi Ozawa (Japan) and Elisabeth Nogueras Lorenz (Spain), promising a clash of skill and strategy. In the men’s final, Pol Alsina and Edu Altimires Ros (Spain) face the French powerhouse duo Arthur Hugounenq and Thomas Seux in what is set to be an electrifying encounter.
The semifinals on day 3 of the open saw some intense play in the women’s category with Spain’s Ainize S. Landa and Aitana Domenech cruising past the Indo-Irani duo of Tulsi Mehta and Banafsheh Shahpar in straight sets of 6-0, 6-0, while the second semi finals in the women’s category saw Japan’s Kotomi Ozawa and Spanish Elisabeth Nogueras Lorenz edge past Sharmada Balu and Prerana Prathap by 6-1, 6-2.
In the men’s semifinals, the Spanish duo of Pol Alsina and Edu Altimires Ros overcame the Swedish duo of Arya Roghani and Hami Golestan by 6-4, 6-1. While, Arthur Hugounenq and Thomas Seux from France made their way to the finals with a comfortable 6-0, 6-2 win over the Indian pair of Chaitanya Shah and Vikram Shah.
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.
