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Ten Sports to air Sania Mirza’s Dubai quest live
MUMBAI: New tennis kid on the block Sania Mirza is sure doing India proud by her brilliant performance on the courts. The latest feather in her cap was defeating US Open champion Svetlana Kuznetsova in the Dubai Duty Free Womens Open. It comes as no surprise that the tournament will be aired deferred live on Dubai based Ten Sports.
The telecast will include Mirzas quarter-final match, as well as full delayed coverage of her win over Kuznetsova.
Mirzas brilliant comeback from 0-4 down against the fourth seed Russian star will begin on Ten Sports at 7:30 pm on 3 March, followed by live coverage of the quarterfinal match. The live quarterfinal matches will be played in two sessions evening 4 pm to 6 pm, followed by the night session from 8:30 pm to 10:30 pm.
Mirza is scheduled to play her quarterfinal match against Jelena Jankovic of Serbia-Montenegro, who is ranked 28th in the world. At the same time, there are high expectations from Mirza to improve upon her current 97th position after this week.
The two semi-final matches are scheduled for Saturday, 5 March and the final is slated for Sunday, 6 March.
Taj Television Limited (owners of Ten Sports) CEO Chris McDonald said, “We take great pride in providing relevant and entertaining sports content for the Indian sub-continent, and nothing gets bigger for the fans here than Sania Mirzas wonderful quest in Dubai at the moment. Our viewers wanted to see her in action, and we are happy to serve them.”
The 18-year-old from Hyderabad upset world No 37 Jelena Kostanic of Croatia 6-7, 6-4, 6-1 in the first round, and despite a painful twisted ankle, got the better of a shell-shocked Kuznetsova 6-4, 6-2 to advance to the quarter-finals of the $ 1 million WTA event. She recently created history by becoming the first Indian to win a WTA event at her hometown Hyderabad last month.
Pointing out that marketing is an important aspect of this game, Gupta said, There is definitely a market for putting across a brands point of view through programmes that would be watched. If such fare is interactive, then the payoffs are huge.No wonder, FBC India is on track to meet its revenue target for 2005, which has been put by Gupta anywhere between $ 4- $4.5 million.
Though the Indian joint venture with FBC having majority shareholding was born in October last, the parent company was formed in 1998. FBC is a European-based media and entertainment group specializing in television format creation, production, distribution and strategic communications.
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.
