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ESPN Star Sports quiz goes according to the Gameplan
The third chapter of the Corporate Challenger Quiz organised by ESPN Star Sports took place last night in Mumbai. Earlier this month the event took place in Delhi and Bangalore.
The well attended affair was bubbly thanks in no small part to the compere Charu Sharma who made sure things moved along smoothly. However at the end of nearly four hours, three teams were tied with 90 points. It finally came down to a couple of questions. Jeet and Malavika Banerjee of Gameplan, a company with huge sporting connections, ran out the winners by a whisker with 110 points, Infosys Pune (100) took second spot while HSBC (95) came in third.
Introducing the show,Manu Sawhney, managing director, ESPN Software, said Corporate Challenger Quiz was a natural extension of the School Quiz Olympiad started a couple of years ago which now covers 2000 schools in 23 cities. ESPN was committed to promoting excellence in sports both physical and intellectual, he said. Sawhney also said that the channel would take the initiative forward by taking the show on air next year and so more companies will send in their entries.
With two participants making up a team representing their company, the quiz began with a written test for all the 49 participating teams. Based on the number of correct answers, six teams (Gameplan, HSBC, Infosys Pune, Phillips, NSE and Cadbury India) qualified to participate in the finals. The six teams went through 10 rounds before the winners were decided.
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.
