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Arnab Goswami to lead IPL finale debate on Star Sports
MUMBAI: Prior to the IPL finale, viewers will witness an interesting debate led by Republic World co-founder, MD and editor-in-chief and TV most prolific face Arnab Goswami. The theme of the debate is who will win the world’s toughest finals? The show will see cricket experts led by team Dean Jones, Kumar Sangakkara, Darren Sammy against team Scotty Styris, Brett Lee and Anil Kumble to predict the winner of Vivo IPL 2018. Jones and Styris will play against each other in aT20 format and collaborate with Republic TV.
It will be a one hour show that will go be aired on Star Sports 1/HD, Star Sports 2/HD, Star Sports Select 1 (HD), Hotstar as well as on Republic TV.
Speaking on this debate, Jones said “Kumar Sangakkara and Darren Sammy are both extremely professional individuals. We are going to debate and prove why my team is going to win in this season of Vivo IPL. We will spend time going through analytics and the Red Book in detail. Kumar Sangakkara is a lawyer and Daren Sammy won two T20 world cup championships and is one of the best players of all time. So we are going to WIN THIS for sure!”
Commenting on that, Styris responded, “The debate is going to be awesome! Dean Jones is going to lead one team and I am going to lead another with my team-mates Anil Kumble and Brett Lee, with the idea being that we debate all sections of the game – the powerplay, the middle overs and in the death. We will try and break it down into three experts in each time with the idea to prove why our team will win the Vivo IPL. I’ve got Anil Kumble and Brett Lee on my team who are the most knowledgeable cricketers I have met and I look forward to taking on Dean Jones’s team – who know nothing!”
Select Dugout has a completely new concept for intense cricket fans. It highlights the what, why and how of the playing teams and players and their strategies that go into winning a match.
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.
