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ESS signs four year deal for Azlan Shah hockey
MUMBAI: After taking great pains to localise hockey in the country with Premier Hockey League (PHL) the question was how ESPN Star Sports (ESS) would leverage the interest that the tournament generated.
Well the broadcaster has acquired the rights for the 14th Azlan Shah Cup Hockey tournament. The event kicks off in Kuala Lumpur from 26 May 2005.
The broadcaster has entered into a four year agreement with Malaysian Hockey Federation (MHF) for the broadcast rights of the premier hockey tournament. India will open their Azlan Shah Hockey campaign with a match against South Africa on the first day of the seven-nation tournament on 26 May.
Apart from India, Australia, Pakistan, South Korea, Malaysia, New Zealand and South Africa will compete in the round-robin format of the tournament that ends with the final on June 5. The tournament will kick off with a match between Pakistan and New Zealand. The much-anticipated India-Pakistan encounter will take place on 1 June 2005.
There will be special Hindi commentary with expert comments from Jagbir Singh, former Assistant Coach of the Indian hockey team. Jagbir played an important role of familiarizing viewers with rules of hockey during the PHL telecast. Jagbir’s style of demystifying strategies of various teams was well appreciated by viewers and game analysts alike. Along with Partho Mukherjee and Darian Shahidi, Jagbir will be back for commentary on the Azlan Shah tournament and special 30-minute pre and post-match analysis shows.
ESS India MD R C Venkateish said, “We are delighted to have picked up the broadcasting rights for the prestigious Azlan Shah Cup. With the entertaining telecast of PHL, we have proven the excitement, which can be added to hockey with localization. Viewers can expect a similarly entertaining treatment for the Azlan Shah matches as well.
“After the telecast of India-Pakistan ‘Dosti’ series, India-Spain and PHL, this is a major hockey tournament viewers will be able to watch on our channels. We will continue to add value to our hockey coverage as we have done with our cricket telecast.”
Malaysian Hockey Federation president Duli-Yang-Teramat-Mulia Raja Dr Nazrin Shah says, “It is our pleasure to be associated with the leading sports broadcaster of the region. ESPN STAR Sports has taken hockey broadcast to a completely new level with the recent experiment of PHL. We expect nothing less for the Azlan Shah Cup also and we are confident that the popularity of Azlan Shah Cup Hockey will only grow with this association.”
In the previous edition, India had finished last while Australia won the title. Pakistan was the losing finalist and South Korea bagged the bronze. With the game of hockey gaining popularity and other important tournaments round the corner, Azlan Shah is bound to attract viewer attention.
Last year, ESS had showcased the India-Pakistan and India-Spain test series. This was followed by the broadcasters’ foray into the earlier mentioned PHL.
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.
