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ESS ropes in Bhaichung Bhutia for football promotion
MUMBAI: One of the sports where ESPN Star Sports (ESS) has a clear lead over the competition is football. The broadcaster has announced that it has signed on Indian football skipper Baichung Bhutia to promote the Uefa Euro 2004 Championship.
Uefa Euro 2004 will showcase 31 matches from 12 June to 4 July 2004.
ESS also announced that its coverage of the tournament will also feature Hindi commentary and analysis. Right now the production team is scouting for talent in this regard.
Bhutia will provide analysis during the telecast of the matches. He will also be travelling with the ESS team for on-ground events aimed at increasing consumer and trade awareness and interest in the tournament.
It may be recalled that a couple of years ago when Ten Sports aired the football World Cup it had Bhutia as a special guest in its studio.
On the advertising front ESS will launch a national level print campaign this month to create awareness of the championship across the country. The broadcaster will use outdoor media like hoardings, public transport vehicles and cinemas to reach out to its target audience.
ESS MD R C Venkateish added, “Most of the live action would happen at Indian prime time, which will also add to the increase in interest level for the popular championship. Hindi commentary will add greatly in increasing penetration of soccer, especially in Hindi markets like UP, Gujarat, Haryana, Uttaranchal etc. Viewers will have a choice to ask for English or Hindi commentary.”
Besides the live telecast ESS will also produce daily half hour pre-match highlights complemented with four weekly one-hour highlights. This phenomenal football package will include specially taped programmes such as The Story of the Uefa European Football Championships, The Road to Uefa Euro 2004, The Golden Moments,.
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.
