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ESPN Classic Sport launches in Croatia
MUMBAI: ESPN Classic Sport which showcases major sports events of the past is spreading its reach in Europe. It launched in Croatia over the Easter weekend on cable TV operator, Digital City Media (DCM). 40 countries now have the channel.
DCM offers up to 40 different TV channels, including CNN, The Discovery Channel, MTV and Cartoon Network. It claims to be is the largest national cable TV company in Croatia, providing cable television services in Zagreb, Split, Osijek and Solin.
ESPN Classic Sport MD Roch Pellerin says, “Initially, the concept of launching a pan-European, entertainment, sports channel was tough, however increasingly, operators recognise how it complements real-time, live sports coverage. ESPN Classic Sport is becoming a staple channel in the programme line-up. There is a great appetite for sports fans to watch legendary sporting encounters and we are happy to offer this to viewers.”
In addition to the regular sporting programme schedule, in June 2005 an evocative film entitled The Last Yugoslavian Football Team will premiere on the channel. The aim is to forge a closer connect with the Croatian audience. Boban, Prosinecki, Savicevic, Mihaljovic and Suker, were all born in the same country, all played for the same football team and all shared the same dream, until Yugoslavia was torn apart by its brutal civil war.
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.
