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ESS & Asian Tour extend broadcast agreement
BANGALORE: ESPN Star Sports (ESS) and Asian Tour, the official regional sanctioning body for professional tournament golf in Asia, have extended their partnership agreement till 2009.
Under the agreement, ESS will provide coverage of a minimum of 10 Asian Tour golf events a year till 2009. Golf enthusiasts will also continue to enjoy the weekly television magazine show, Asian Tour Weekly, which provides
event highlights, showcases Asian players making an impact on the game today and features the latest golf news in Asia and around the world.
ESS began coverage of the Asian Tour in mid-2004 and recently inked a new deal which will extend its involvement as Exclusive Regional Broadcaster with the world’s fastest growing Tour.
ESS MD Jamie Davis said : “The popularity of golf in this region has been boosted by the success of Asian players like Thailand’s Thongchai Jaidee and Thaworn Wiratchant, India’s Jyoti Randhawa and Shiv Kapur and China’s Zhang Lian-wei, all of whom have made a significant impact in the game of golf.
The events on the Asian Tour schedule represent the pinnacle of Asian golf and the exclusive broadcast agreement with ESS enables the Asian Tour to showcase these events across Asia and work together in fostering the development of Asian Golf for the future, states an official release.
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.
