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Women’s T20 WC 2020 viewership grows three times to 5.4 bn mins
MUMBAI: The recently concluded ICC Women’s T20 World Cup saw unprecedented growth in the consumption of T20 women’s cricket, resulting in the official broadcaster Star Sports setting new records. Consumption rose three times to 5.4 billion minutes during the tournament.
The tournament has reached at a historical high of 74.9 million up 200 per cent. On the digital platform, Hotstar viewership grew 180 per cent while consumption per user rises 80 per cent and social conversations grew by 2.5 times compared to ICC Women's World Twenty20 2018.
The finals, which witnessed hosts Australia square off against India, recorded 9.9 million average impressions, the highest ever for any women's T20 match. However, Australia beat India by 85 runs to win their fifth Women’s T20 World Cup crown in front of a packed Melbourne Cricket Ground with 86,174 fans in attendance during a final.
Star Sports, through its campaign #TakeOnTheWorld, which featured the 16-year-old Indian opening batswomen, Shafali Verma, brought alive her single-minded focus and passion for the game. The same passion was seen in Shafali’s game throughout the tournament – her talent and pure power took the cricketing world by storm.
Even though the teenage sensation ended up on the losing side, her performance during the tournament left many fans of the game in awe and eulogizing her prodigious talent despite her young age. The campaign generated 1.3 million interactions across social platforms, 5.2 times increase over the last ICC Women's World Twenty20 2018.
The overwhelming response from fans not only inspires a generation of young girls to take up the sport but also attract brand and advertising interest to further fuel the growth of women's cricket in India.
With this, Star Sports proudly supports 100 per cent cricket, the ICC’s yearlong campaign to grow the visibility of the women’s game, celebrate the players and their passion, and reinforce cricket’s position at the forefront of the women’s sports movement.
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.
