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ESS forges alliance with Malaysia’s Ministry Of Youth And Sport
MUMBAI: ESPN Star Sports (ESS) and Malaysia’s Ministry of Youth and Sports have announced plans for a multi-year strategic partnership alliance to raise participation and interest in sport in the country.
ESS will align with the Ministry’s National Fitness Council to enhance the sporting culture in Malaysia through a series of activities and programmes. These will be rolled out over the period of the proposed strategic alliance, starting from next year.
Malaysia’s Minister of Youth and Sport, Datuk Azalina Dato Othman said, “The Ministry of Youth and Sports is looking into this exciting strategic partnership in detail and want it to be a positive step towards bringing high-quality, high-level sports news and events to all Malaysians. ESPN Star Sports is one of the most recognisable brands in both sports reporting as well as sports event staging and bringing them to Malaysia will have a positive impact on sports as well as business and tourism.”
This co-operative effort, the first of its kind in Malaysia between an international media company and the Ministry of Youth and Sport, will launch with two initial elements. The first will showcase a range of on-air initiatives featuring sports popular with Malaysians as well as local athlete profiles. The second element will be focused on the staging of key sporting events around the country evolving around the 8 core sports, eco-nature-type sports and martial arts.
ESS Asia MD Jamie Davis said, “We share the Ministry of Youth and Sport’s vision and ambition to build a strong, long-term and active sporting culture in Malaysia. This alliance has the trademarks of an intelligent and exciting partnership and I am confident our efforts will touch all citizens of Malaysia and achieve what’s it’s been set up to do.
“We are naturally delighted to be offered this important opportunity to showcase our network’s unrivalled sports programming and demonstrate our expertise in staging world-class events in Asia. In view that 2005 is the ‘International Year of Sports and Physical Education’ as declared by the United Nations adds further significance to this landmark association”.
Collaborative efforts between ESS and the Ministry of Youth and Sports have also been done in the past. ESS and the Ministry of Youth and Sport’s partnership history includes the successful staging of the Asian X Games in Kuala Lumpur in 2003 and 2004 as well as the KL World 5’s futsal tournament which was also held in Kuala Lumpur in 2003.
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.
