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Delhi GM Open makes its next move with Triveni Sports in play
MUMBAI: When strategy meets sponsorship, it’s more than just a game,it’s a masterstroke. The 21st edition of the Delhi International Open Grandmasters Chess Tournament better known as the Delhi GM Open is going all in with a new strategic ally. Triveni Sports Private Limited has joined hands with the Delhi Chess Association (DCA) as Associate Sponsor, powering India’s most prestigious classical-format chess event into its most ambitious edition yet.
Backed by the All India Chess Federation and slated to unfold from 7 to 14 June at Tivoli Gardens, Chattarpur, New Delhi, the Delhi GM Open 2025 is gearing up to host over 2,500 players from more than 15 countries. This includes 20 Grandmasters battling it out across three rating-based categories. The pièce de résistance? A record-smashing Rs 1.21 crore prize pool up from previous editions with Rs 51 lakh for Category A (open to all rated players), and Rs 35 lakh each for Categories B (U-1900) and C (U-1700). Each category will run 10 rounds under FIDE’s Swiss system.
Triveni Sports, a joint venture between Triveni Engineering & Industries Limited and Triveni Turbine Limited, is no stranger to the game. With consecutive Global Chess League titles to its name and deep roots in Indian chess, the company’s involvement brings both credibility and enthusiasm to the board. Expect brand visibility across the tournament from check-in counters to checkmates with digital campaigns and on-ground activations ensuring a seamless partnership presence.
Adding ceremonial gravitas, Triveni Group chairman and MD former president of the All India Chess Federation, Dhruv M. Sawhney and will be the chief guest at the inauguration. A chess devotee himself, Sawhney remarked, “Chess has always held a special place in my heart… Through Triveni Sports, we are committed to supporting platforms that empower young talent and advance the sport in a meaningful way.”
Echoing the sentiment DCA president Bharat Singh Chauhan added, “This is where norms are earned and future GMs are born. Triveni Sports understands the demands of chess and shares our vision of growing the game sustainably from the grassroots up.”
With pawns poised and prize money piled high, the Delhi GM Open is setting the board for a tournament where every move matters. Checkmate never looked this grand.
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.
