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DD, AIR set to provide free-to-air coverage of FIFA U-17 WC
NEW DELHI: India, which has seen every format of cricket, is, for the first time, all set to play host to the other big world game – football – which has so far remained the domain of the western world, with just Kerala, West Bengal, Goa and the north-eastern states’ viewers showing interest in the sport.
A total of 24 teams in six groups are taking part in the Under-17 FIFA World Cup commencing tomorrow, and concluding on 28 October at six venues.
While Sony Sports holds the rights to the tourney, the matches will also be shown live on Doordarshan Sports under the Sports Broadcasting Signals (Mandatory Sharing with Prasar Bharati) Act 2007. In addition, All-India Radio will also be giving live commentaries of the matches as they take place.
DD Sports has lined up an eminent panel of experts for the FIFA U-17 World Cup which includes the man who is the face of football in India — Baichung Bhutia. The others are Aditi Chauhan, who is the Indian Women Team goalkeeper, Sukhwinder Singh, who is the former India coach, and the former Indian footballer Renedy Singh, who, along with others, will be part of the pre-match and post-match show ‘Goal For Glory’ with the theme line of “Football Takes Over.”
As provided in the Act, Doordarshan is doing its own marketing for the 52 matches being shown live by DD Sports. All the matches will be telecast on DD Sports which will be available on its terrestrial and the free-to-air FreeDish platform. Following recent court orders, DD has already forbidden cable TV networks or other private DTH platforms from beaming the DD signals.
A senior DD Sports official told indiantelevision.com that the DD marketing team is in discussions with sponsors, and most of the matters are in the final stage of negotiations. He said the public broadcaster has drawn out a comprehensive media publicity and promotion plan which majorly includes cross-channel publicity, print publicity, using its hoardings and publicity in its social media platforms.
AIR additional director-general (sports) Ashok Nigam told indiantelevision.com that the marketing for AIR had been done through cross-channel promotion among AIR networks, and on social media. AIR is not doing any out-of-home publicity such as hoardings. It was also examining promotion on community radio stations. Sponsors will also include some central ministries, he said.
Expert comments in English on the game will be by Novy Kapadia, Niladri Sen and Prasanjit Dutta while the Hindi commentators are — Sanjay Banerjee, Rajat Sengupta, and Ashish Chirangoo.
Nigam said AIR intended to originate live bilingual commentary (in Hindi and English) of the opening match scheduled in Delhi tomorrow, all three group matches of India to be played in Delhi and all matches from pre-quarter-final stage onwards, scheduled in Delhi, Navi Mumbai, Margao (Goa), Guwahati, Kochi and Kolkata to the final match on 28 October 2017.
Live commentary of the matches would be available over AIR’s FM Rainbow network, programmes of which were aired from over 30 stations across India, and additionally over Primary Channels (MW) of Capital AIR stations in Delhi, West Bengal, Kerala, Goa, Maharashtra, Punjab, Jammu & Kashmir, Sikkim, Assam, Meghalaya, Arunachal Pradesh, Manipur, Mizoram, Nagaland and Tripura.
Daily reports would also be broadcast over all Capital AIR stations (MW) and FM Gold network at 0840 hours on the days following match days.
AIR had been providing maximum coverage to FIFA Under-17 World Cup being held for the first time in India by airing several special programmes. These included interviews with the minister of sports Rajyavardhan Singh Rathore, and the ministry of youth affairs and sports secretary (sports) Injeti Srinivas.
Another programme in the series of special programmes is being aired at 830 pm tonight. In addition to this, a live radio bridge programme titled ‘Khelo Football’ on FIFA Under-17 World Cup-2017 linking all cities hosting the event would be broadcast over FM Gold and Primary Channels (MW) of Capital AIR Stations early today from 9.10 am to 10 am.
The schedule released by AIR is:
|
DATE |
MATCH DETAILS |
VENUE |
COMMENTARY TIMINGS INCLUDING SPECIAL INTERACTIVE PROGRAMMES |
|---|---|---|---|
|
6th October, 2017 |
Colombia Vs. Ghana ( Opening Match) |
Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium , Delhi |
1645 to 1900 hrs. or till the endof the match. |
|
6th October, 2017 |
India Vs. USA (Group Match) |
Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium , Delhi |
1945 to 2200 hrs. or till the endof the match. |
|
9th October, 2017 |
India Vs. Colombia ( Group Match) |
Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium , Delhi |
1945 to 2200 hrs. or till the endof the match. |
|
12th October, 2017 |
India Vs. Ghana ( Group match) |
Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium , Delhi |
1945 to 2200 hrs. or till the endof the match. |
|
16th October, 2017 |
Pre-Quarter Final match |
Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium , Delhi |
1645 to 1900 hrs. or till the end of the match. |
|
16th October, 2017 |
Pre-Quarter Final Match |
Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium , Delhi |
1945 to 2200 hrs. or till the endof the match. |
|
17th October, 2017 |
Pre-Quarter Final Match |
Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium, Madgaon, Goa |
1645 to 1900 hrs. or till the endof the match. |
|
17th October, 2017 |
Pre-Quarter Final Match |
Indira Gandhi Athletic International stadium, Guwahati |
1645 to 1900 hrs. or till the endof the match. |
|
17th October, 2017 |
Pre-Quarter Final Match |
Vivekananda Yuba BharatiKrirangan, Kolkata |
1945 to 2200 hrs. or till the endof the match. |
|
17th October, 2017 |
Pre-Quarter Final match |
Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium, Madgaon, Goa |
1945 to 2200 hrs. or till the endof the match. |
|
18th October, 2017 |
Pre-Quarter Final |
Dr. D Y Patil Sports Stadium, Navi Mumbai |
1645 to 1900 hrs. or till the endof the match. |
|
18th October, 2017 |
Pre-Quarter Final |
Jawaharlal Nehru International Stadium, Kochi |
1945 to 2200 hrs. or till the endof the match. |
|
21st October, 2017 |
Quarter Final |
Indira Gandhi Athletic International stadium, Guwahati |
1645 to 1900 hrs. or till the endof the match. |
|
21st October, 2017 |
Quarter Final |
Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium, Madgaon, Goa |
1945 to 2200 hrs. or till the endof the match. |
|
22nd October, 2017 |
Quarter Final |
Jawaharlal Nehru International Stadium, Kochi |
1645 to 1900 hrs. or till the end of the match. |
|
22nd October, 2017 |
Quarter Final |
Vivekananda Yuba BharatiKrirangan, Kolkata |
1945 to 2200 hrs. or till the endof the match. |
|
25th October, 2017 |
Semi Final |
Indira Gandhi Athletic International stadium, Guwahati |
1645 to 1900 hrs. ortill the endof the match. |
|
25th October, 2017 |
Semi Final |
Dr. D Y Patil Sports Stadium, Navi Mumbai |
1945 to 2200 hrs. or till the endof the match. |
|
28th October, 2017 |
3rd and 4th Place Match |
Vivekananda Yuba BharatiKrirangan, Kolkata |
1645 to 1900 hrs. ortill the endof the match. |
|
28th October, 2017 |
W 49 Vs. W 50 (FInal) |
Vivekananda Yuba BharatiKrirangan, Kolkata |
1945 to 2200 hrs. or till the end of the match |
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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.
