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India joins celebrations of historic 1000th MotoGP race with exciting bike rally
Mumbai: Super bikes, flashy skills and burnouts were at display when close to thousand riders gathered in the capital city on Saturday to celebrate the 1000th MotoGP race landmark with an exhilarating bike rally as the motorcycle racing fever begins to grip India ahead of its first-ever MotoGP race, scheduled to take place at the Buddh International Circuit in Noida from 22-24 September.
This weekend’s French Grand Prix marks a significant achievement in the history of MotoGP since the first feast of speed was held 74 years ago. Motorsports enthusiasts and bike riders joined in numbers to pay tribute to the sport’s remarkable milestone and made rally the talk of the town.
The exciting rally, hosted by Fairstreet Sports, a leading sports management company, and convened by xBhp, is the first of many such events being organised in the build-up to the historic MotoGP India round — the “MotoGP Bharat”. Riders gathered at the JLN Stadium to begin the rally and showed flashy burnouts before moving to Gurugram where they also displayed top-notch skills with super bikes.
The vice chairman of New Delhi Municipal Council, Satish Upadhyay graced the occasion along with the executive team of Fairstreet Sports and had a message for the bikers and the audience.
“It was a wonderful event today. I would like to congratulate the Fairstreet Sports team and wish them great success as they gear up for the upcoming Moto GP Bharat. MotoGP is a big name in the world and the way you have started here is fantastic. We have to encourage such events a lot more and I assure you we will do everything to help you in future as well. In India, Motorsport is often regarded as a stunt game but this is not a stunt, this is a serious sport and we have to take it seriously. Security and safety is also very important and it is necessary for bikers to adhere to the rules and do the racing,” commented Upadhyay.
Fairstreet Sports COO Pushkar Nath Srivastava said, “We are thrilled to have organised the MotoGP milestone celebration with a bike rally event that brought together the passion, excitement, and unity of the motorcycle racing community in the capital city. As India gears up for the first-ever MotoGP Bharat, this was a remarkable experience to witness the joy on the faces of fans and riders alike. This rally not only celebrated the milestones of MotoGP’s history but also gave glimpses of the excitement of fans for the historic event later this year.”
The on-going MotoGP 2023 season, which witnesses 20 races across 17 countries, will visit India for its 13th race as the country makes its debut on the racetrack. Indian fans will get a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to experience the exciting action where 11 teams and 22 riders will be in action which includes Francesco Bagnaia of Ducati, Marc Marquez of Repsol Honda Team, Marco Bezzecchi of Mooney, Brad Binder and Jack Miller of Redbull KTM, Jorge Martin of Prima and many more.
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.
