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Hero ISL an ideal platform to educate the youth about hydration: Bisleri’s Anjana Ghosh
MUMBAI: With the Hero Indian Super League (Hero ISL) is set to kick off on 29 September 2018, a national campaign titled #FanBannaPadega has been rolled out by the organisers to drum up enthusiasm ahead of the fifth edition. The essence of the campaign puts football fans at the heart of the experience and their role in helping Indian football grow.
Season five of the league will be broadcast in six different languages – English, Hindi, Tamil, Malayalam, Bengali and Kannada. On the digital, front the league will also be live streamed on Hotstar and Jio TV.
Through the years, the Hero ISL has attracted a steady stream of advertises. This year, the league is being backed by Hero, DHL, Bisleri, Maruti Suzuki, Dream11, Zeven, Nivia and Imperial Blue.
Bisleri international marketing director Anjana Ghosh said, “The younger generation decides what the trends are. Events such as Hero ISL have been able to capture this new found interest in football and made it more relatable by showcasing Indian talent along with foreign. Now, that younger generation is increasingly realizing the importance of active lifestyle, Bisleri would like to emphasize the importance of water for leading a healthy lifestyle.”
Hydration as a subject is often neglected in India. Associating with Hero ISL gives Bisleri an ideal platform to connect with the youth, educate them about the importance of right hydration, hydrate the players on ground and in turn let the consumers know that they care for their health.
“Hero ISL is a new platform for Indian footballers where they compete with International players, and, it is truly a delight to watch our national players do so well and gain recognition worldwide. A lot of young adults, the millennials, are coming forward and showing their support to this sport. So we believe this is the right platform for Bisleri. Here water matters and that works very well with our product”, she added.
From marathons to cricket, Bisleri has always aligned itself with sporting events. The brand has made its presence felt on the ground, in both large scale and smaller local events as well.
“We see a very natural fit with sports since the right kind of hydration is essential for an intense sport like football. Popularity of football is only set to rise and hence such associations will be fruitful in the long run”, she concluded.
India is an emerging football-loving nation, with loyalties divided at marquee global leagues/championships, but Hero ISL gives them the opportunity to come together to celebrate India’s footballing revolution. Thus, the campaign for season five is a call out to all football fans at large to come together for Indian football – #FanBannaPadega.
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.
