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Baseline Ventures to represent Indian sporting icon, Abhinav Bindra
Mumbai: Baseline Ventures, a sports management company has announced the signing of Indian sporting icon and 2008 Olympic Gold Medallist, Abhinav Bindra. Baseline Ventures will be exclusively representing successful shooter Abhinav Bindra for all commercial engagements, including brand endorsements, sponsorships, licensing etc.
Abhinav Bindra made history at the 2008 Beijing Olympics by becoming India’s first individual Gold medallist. His journey to this achievement is a testament to his relentless pursuit of excellence, which also made him the first Indian to win a World Championship Gold in Air Rifle Shooting. Born in Dehradun, Bindra has won over 150 individual medals in a career that spanned over two decades, concluding with a commendable fourth-place finish at the Rio Olympics in 2016. His illustrious career has earned him the Arjuna Award, the Rajiv Gandhi Khel Ratna Award, and the Padma Bhushan, India’s third-highest civilian award. He has also been conferred with the Blue Cross, the highest honour by the International Shooting Sport Federation, and holds the honorary title of Lt. Col. in the Territorial Army.
Beyond his career in sports, Bindra is passionately involved in numerous initiatives through the Abhinav Bindra Foundation Trust (ABFT). The foundation is dedicated to leveraging sports for social change, focusing on intervention, education, and social upliftment. ABFT’s STEAM scholarship program integrates Science, Engineering, Analytics, and Medicine into the training of grassroots athletes. The foundation’s efforts also include the Sport Science Interventions at ABTP Centers, the Athlete Mental Wellness Program, and the Physiotherapy and Sport Science Institute in Odisha. Additionally, the foundation’s ‘Sport4Her’ program empowers female athletes, and its Olympic Values Education Program, in collaboration with the International Olympic Committee and the Governments of Odisha and Assam, has positively impacted millions of school children.
Abhinav Bindra shared his thoughts on this occasion, “I am looking forward to working closely with Baseline Ventures to create valuable and meaningful collaborations. Their expertise in sports marketing is well known and I hope to partner with them to nurture mutual goals.”
Baseline Ventures co-founder Vishal Jaison expressed his excitement about the partnership, stating, “We are honoured and thrilled to represent Abhinav Bindra, a legend in Indian sports. His career and accomplishments are a testament to his hard work and determination. We look forward to creating meaningful and impactful opportunities that align with his vision and values for the long term.”
With the signing of Abhinav Bindra, Baseline Ventures continues to strengthen its portfolio of top-tier sports athletes and further cement its status as a prominent player in the Indian sports landscape through its unwavering commitment of creating a share of voice for athletes across sports.
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.
