News Headline
Stakeholders highlight need for sports education
MUMBAI: The Khelo India programme has been introduced to revive the sports culture in India by Prime Minister Narendra Modi. The structure starts at the grass-roots level by building a strong framework for all sports played in our country and establishing India as a great sporting nation.
It is no secret that the creative sector is the biggest investor in sports in India. Therefore, the question arises as to what policy framework should be adopted to turn India into an epicentre for investments in sports activities and content.
In a sports-related session titled ‘Khelo India: India’s Sporting Transformation’ at the FICCI Frames 2018, panellists spoke about how India has improved its infrastructural facilities in the area of sports through annual properties like IPL where there are several work opportunities available.
Transstadia founder and MD Udit Sheth said, “Sports infrastructure is a very broad term, we should really talk about how we use them for the benefit of the people. We need to educate kids that sports and education cannot be two different things; together they make people smarter.” International Institute of Sports founder and director and former cricketer Nilesh Kulkarni added that decision making about a career in sports becomes easier if there is proper education available about the different job options present in sports.
Go play Sports LLP consultant Mayank Pande spoke of ways to encourage sports. He said, “If you look at India, 41 per cent of the total population is under the age of 20. To building a seamless structure of sports at the grassroots level, you need to build community-based programmes, a level above that comes the state infrastructure where comes the national circuit and above that, you need to build the iconic platforms that help in pulling the eyeballs. Vertical integration of these three platforms will help in building awareness.”
LawNK managing partner Nandan Kamath said that the IPL has added to the existing cricket fever of the country and ended up filling the pockets of cricketers and packing stadiums to the brim. “It also started building a significant amount of interest in private stakeholders and now franchises came into play through IPL in India.”
A lot of hopes rest on the introduction of the Khelo India programme. With the right structure put in place for the programme, the much-elusive sporting glory may finally be within the country’s grasp.
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.
