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ESPN Asian Xtour arrives in Kuala Lumpur next month
MUMBAI: The ESPN organised 2002 Asian Xtour arrives in Kuala Lumpur in the first week of September, the third stop of the events six-city tour.
The event will take place at a professionally designed course in the KLCC Car Park from 6-8 September. An official release informs that the two-day event has been extended to spread over three days due to increasing popularity, both among participants and spectators.
Winners in the three categories of Aggressive Inline Skating, Skateboarding and Bicycle Stunt will represent Malaysia at the Asian X Games Qualifier V and ESPN Junior X Games IV, both scheduled to be held in Kuala Lumpur in January. Qualified winners at the regional event will then go on to compete in ESPN’s Summer X Games IX in the US, the pinnacle of action sports competition. Two roadshows with presenting sponsor Toyota, photo shoots with Adidas, and workshops for the media, exhilarating demos by professional athletes, ESPN giveaways and other activities are in store.
The release states that the Ministry of Youth and Sports has been managing the local Malaysian National Extreme Circuit over the past few months. The Circuit, which was created due in part to the overwhelming response from Malaysias action athletes at the Asian X Games, has been geared towards recruiting and training local action athletes at the grassroots level. This is in line with the Malaysian Governments on-going efforts in the area of sports development for the youth.
ESPN will broadcast the event on 29 September at 10 am. The 2002 Asian Xtour Kuala Lumpur is sanctioned by Aggressive Skaters Association, World Cup Skateboarding and Hoffman Sports Association.
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.
