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ESS secures multi-year rights for US Open golf tourney
MUMBAI: Hot on the heels of acquiring the rights to next month’s Asia Cricket Cup, ESPN Star Sports (ESS) has announced that it has renewed the multi-year cable and satellite rights for the US Open Golf Championships.
Other golf tourneys that already air on the network include the Augusta Masters, the Open Championships, the World Golf Championships (WGC) as well as the Grand Slam of Golf.
The new five-year United States Golf Association (USGA) broadcast package also includes live coverage of the US Senior Open Championships, the US Women’s Open Championship and the US Amateur Championships.
ESS MD Rik Dovey said, “This is part of the network’s ongoing effort to deliver top-flight must-see programming to viewers across Asia. Golf’s popularity is on the rise and golf enthusiasts in Asia want their fill of the best the sport has to offer.
“Asia’s growing interest in the sport can also be attributed to the star power of the players – viewers are more knowledgeable about the game, the players as well as all the off-the-fairway news and happenings surrounding the sport.
“It has been refreshing to see Asian golfers such as Shigeki Maruyama (Japan), KJ Choi (Korea), Arjun Atwal (India) and Chang Lian-wei (China) showing themselves to be strong contenders on the international golfing stage. The presence and the success of these Asian sporting talents have a direct correlation to the viewership of the sport on our network. This is helped by the fact that our live golf programming is without a doubt the most expansive in the region.”
On the ad front the broadcaster has stated that it is seeing signs of continued upward growth. It has claimed that sponsorship and spot rate packages for all its major golf programming are completely selling out. Broadcast partners include Rolex and Mission Hills
All four rounds of the 104th US Open Championships are airing in over 128 million homes on ESPN.
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.
