News Headline
ESS announces two shows with Sachin
MUMBAI: The wait is finally over those wondering what exactly ESPN Star Sports had lined up with its brand ambassador cricket icon Sachin Tendulkar.
Tendulkar opens his television innings with two new weekly programmes; India Vs. and Sachin Speaks On World Cup Stars where he analyses the teams and the stars in a lead up to the cricket World Cup.
In India Vs., Sachin provides his perspective on various teams participating in the forthcoming World Cup. In each hour-long episode of India Vs., Sachin examines Indias past performances against an international team and then goes on to evaluate Indias chances against that team in the forthcoming World Cup, an official release says.
India Vs. features the best teams in the game, covering Australia, South Africa, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, New Zealand, England, West Indies, Zimbabwe and Kenya. India Vs. will air every Tuesday at 9 pm on Star Sports starting 5 November, with a repeat telecast on ESPN every Wednesday at 8:30 pm.
In Sachin Speaks On World Cup Stars, Sachin will share his assessment of the worlds top cricketers. Men, whose presence is likely to make a crucial difference to their respective teams performances during the upcoming African safari.
The cricket stars to be featured in Sachin Speaks On World Cup Stars include Adam Gilchrist, Glenn McGrath, Sourav Ganguly, Anil Kumble, Chris Cairns, Wasim Akram, Abdul Razzaq, Jacques Kallis, Shaun Pollock, Muttiah Muralitharan, Brian Lara, Andy Flower and Andrew Flintoff.
Besides Sachin, cricketers like Carl Hooper, Heath Streak, Andy Flower, Stephen Fleming, Chris Harris, Shaun Pollock, Allan Donald and Jacques Kallis also offer insights on their contemporaries. Sachin Speaks On World Cup Stars will be aired on ESPN every Thursday at 8:30 pm starting 7 November with a repeat telecast every Friday on Star Sports at 9:30 pm.
Earlier this year, Sachin had signed his first-ever exclusive long-term TV channel contract with ESPN Star Sports. Rs 40 million per year is the conservative estimate as to what it cost ESS to tag Sachin. How well the the two shows do will in part determine whether ESS has managed to get worthwhile returns on that investment.
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.
