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All Women’s Sports Network launches on Jio TV
MUMBAI: We all know Whoopi Goldberg as a wonderful actress and for her roles in The Color Purple and Sister Act series. Now the American star – who has long been a supporter of sports – will be known for launching a global sports network for women. Yes, exclusively focused on women’s sports.
Called the All Women Sports Network (AWSN) its launch was announced mid-last week on The Tonight Show hosted by Jimmy Fallon. Goldberg is partnering with an organization called CommonSpirit Health which is led by CEO Wright Lassetter III for the network.
The new channel will “be the home for live women’s sports from around the world. Everything from soccer, basketball, tennis, cricket, curling, you name it — if a woman is playing it, we’re showing it,” expressed Goldberg to Fallon.
In India, AWSN is available on Jio TV and Jio TV+ across all mobile phones and is integrated with the Jio set top box as well. Goldberg added that the channel is to be available in 65 countries including west Asia, Asia and a US announcement is set to follow.
According to Goldberg, the goal of AWSN is to “rectify the imbalance in sport representation, championing the cause of female athletes one step at a time.”
At the time of writing, the channel was showcasing docuseries around prominent sportswomen like Billie Jean King, Serena Williams and other athletes, interspersed with live matches of women’s football, beach ball in Germany and Sweden, and basketball, field hockey leagues in Australia.
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.
