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Cable and Wireless forges promotional alliance with Octagon for next year’s cricket World Cup
MUMBAI: With the opening match of the ICC Cricket World Cup West Indies 2007, Cable & Wireless, an event sponsor says that it is eager not to miss any opportunity to maximise their association with an event of such significance within the Caribbean.
To help maximise all opportunities presented by the ICC Cricket World Cup sponsorship, Cable & Wireless have partnered with Octagon, who will develop and execute a sponsorship activation programme, centred around the prominent role that cricket plays in Caribbean culture.
Octagon client services director Matthew Worley said, “We are very excited to be supporting Cable & Wireless with this sponsorship leverage programme. Our goal is that this campaign will enhance the excitement and success created by ICC Cricket World Cup 2007, and leave an enduring legacy for both Cable & Wireless and the region.”
Cable & Wireless Caribbean chief commercial officer Paul Hamburger says, “In addition to the important role we need to play in providing top-quality telecommunications infrastructure – fixed line, broadband, and mobile – for facilities, journalists, teams and visitors, our official sponsorship enables us to offer some truly exciting opportunities for our employees, our customers, and for tourists visiting the Caribbean during the tournament. As a sponsor, we are happy to do our part to help build excitement about this tremendous event.
“Octagon have experience and expertise in the cricket arena, and can offer fresh and innovative thinking, helping us to clarify target audiences and develop specific programmes to fit them. We have a tremendous opportunity – and therefore a tremendous amount of strategic and logistical work to do. We are pleased to have a strong partner on board in Octagon.”
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.
