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RayMedia in talks with broadcasters for Davis Cup tie
MUMBAI: This should be a good test of whether Indian broadcasters have the gumption to look beyond Sachin and Saurav. London’s RayMedia which has all TV rights to the Davis Cup tennis competition for India is talking with four Indian broadcasters.
The event in question is the India Vs Holland World Group Qualifying Round. The tie takes place in Holland at Zwolle on 19, 20 and 21 September. The event is billed as the biggest tennis engagement for the year.
RayMedia’s founder-director Ashis Ray said: “If the 2001 Asia/Oceania Zone India-Japan tie from Tokyo is any guide, the TV audience for the India-Holland tie has the potential of approaching non-India matches in the 2003 cricket World Cup.”
TAM data indicates that tennis is gradually building a loyal fan following. The French Open, which historically has enjoyed a relatively smaller following in India doubled its TVR and attracted 7.8 million for the women’s semi-finals and 7.9 million viewers for the men’s final on DD Metro this year. The broadcast was, for the first time, publicised and presented by RayMedia by virtue of the “Doordarshan RayMedia Partnership”.
Ray added: ” This year’s extensive and prominent coverage of the French Open and Wimbledon in Indian newspapers and on Indian TV news, indicates a significant increase in consumer demand for tennis in India. This also includes getting women hooked in a big way.”
Leander Paes and company will face the surprise French Open runner up Martin Verkerk. In the past three years, Doordarshan secured all live rights to the Davis Cup from RayMedia, with Zee TV (in 2000) or Sony Entertainment Television (in 2001) getting highlights rights.
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.
