News Headline
DSport partners with Nodwin for eSports league’s maiden broadcast in India
MUMBAI: DSport, a sports TV channel launched by Discovery Communications India, has partnered with Nodwin Gaming to showcase the flagship esports tournament in the country – ESL India Premiership. As a part of the partnership, DSportwill telecast 90 minutes of action everyday (2 :30 – 4:00pm) starting Wednesday, 19 July, and will continue until December 2017. eSports has revolutionized the concept of sports and recently has been added as a medal event in the 2022 Asian Games.
“We are excited to showcase eSports for the first time on television in India. The 90 minutes of intense gaming broadcast daily on DSport, for over six months, will catapult the popularity of eSports further in the country,” said Discovery Communications India senior VP & GM Karan Bajaj.
Nodwin Gaming MD Akshat Rathee said, “eSports is one of the fastest growing sports in the country and this broadcast of the ESL India Premiership on DSport is sure to elevate their popularity to a new level. eSports has been already announced as a medal event for the 2022 Asian Games and will also hopefully make it to the 2024 Olympics, so we hope this initiative will act as a first step towards bringing glory to the country on global multi-sports platforms.”
As a part of the ESL India Premiership 2017, DSport will telecast ‘Counter Strike: Global Offensive’ competition which will see participation from over 10,000 gamers from the South Asian region fighting for US$100,000 prize money. The Fall Season Finale of the tournament will take place in Hyderabad while the Winter Season Finale will be held in the national capital, Delhi.
ESL India is a partnership between Germany based Turtle Entertainment’s Electronic Sports League (ESL) and India’s first-ever gaming solutions company, Nodwin Gaming. The Electronics Sports League (ESL, formerly ESPL) is the oldest and the largest eSports company in the world; globally getting gamers together, and organizing events like ESL One, IEM, Pro League and ESL National Championships.
Counter-Strike: Global Offensive is one of the most popular multiplayer games in the esports scene. The game is also one to the top five most viewed video games online. India is no stranger to the CS:GO scene, the game has captured the imagination of lakhs of gamers in the country and the number continues to grow daily.
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.
