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ESPN-Star Sports’ ‘Super Selector’ ready and web enabled
Star host Naseeruddin Shah couldn’t make it but there were two legends from the cricket world – Sunil Gavaskar and Geoffrey Boycott – on hand to cover for him as ESPN-Star Sports yesterday announced the launch of its new interactive show “Super Selector.” The first of the series – a preview show – airs today at 8:30 PM Shah will be hosting two Super Selector shows a month – a preview and a review show. The preview show will discuss the possibilities for the next month while the review show will feature the analysis of the players’ performances around the world.
“Super Selector” will be the first simulcast feature programme on ESPN and STAR Sports and will be a complete integrated, interactive and innovative cricket game show which provides an opportunity for viewers to demonstrate knowledge of the game.
While cricket experts nominate their own teams, all the participants will actually get to play this game against the best of talent in the world of international cricket. Interactivity is what it is all about. While participation in the contest is via the ESS website www.espnstar.com, in what is billed as an attempt to reach out to a wider audience entries can also be sent in through offline publications. The weekly magazine “India Today” has been roped in as the national partner while Mumbai’s Mid-Day afternoon, the Hindustan Times in New Delhi and the Gujarat Samachar in Ahmedabad are the newspapers with which tie-ups have been done. Manu Sawhney, managing director, ESPN Software India Ltd., said talks were on with other publications as well to broadbase the show as much as possible.
What exactly it is the newspaper inserts are supposed to achieve is a bit hazy though. As per the game rules one can send in his / her team choice on the prescribed forms (a team will be have five batsmen, four bowlers, one wicket keeper and one all-rounder) to reach ESPN by midnight of the last day of each month. And one is allowed to substitute three team members before the 21st of each month. Only problem is that all substitutions have to be made through the espnstar.com website. So we are back to the web as the only medium through which it is practical to participate in this programme.
As for what is being done on the tube, other than the preview and review shows, to keep interest kicking, there will be 24 new insterstitials per week carrying information bytes of a minute to a minute and a half duration which will give constant updates on how various teams are faring.
Queried on whether there were any similar shows abroad Boycott said that the UK there was a popular selector series called Fantasy Cricket organised by one of the newspaper chains which had also developed a Fantasy Soccer franchise.
As for the logo, which on first look gives a feel of astrological illustrations (after all the show is all about predictions – even if only about a cricket team), it has been designed by the ESPN team in Singapore.
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.
