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ESS to air final draw for 2006 Fifa World Cup
MUMBAI: ESPN Star Sports (ESS) will air the final draw for the 2006 Fifa World Cup from Messe in Leipzig, Germany.
The official ceremony to finalise the groups of the 32 teams participating will kick off the football fever for one of the most awaited contests in sports today. The one and a half hour show will air on 10 December 2005 at 1 am.
ESS will air the football World Cup across Asia next year. Fifa had recently announced the seedings for the top teams for the World Cup recently to initiate the group draw for the 32 teams. The top eight seeds for the World Cup will head each of the eight groups to be announced by Fifa and will avoid meeting each other at stage one. Hosts Germany, defending champions Brazil along with England, Spain, Mexico, France, Argentina and Italy make the top eight seeds.
The final draw ceremony will be hosted by super model Heidi Klum and German talk show host and sports journalist, Reinhold Beckmann. The ceremony will kick off with a talk by Fifa president Joseph Blatter and the handing over of the trophy from Brazil to Germany. The ceremony will include a run down of Fifa history since 1930 in a three episode capsule to be shown during the live telecast.
The German great and one of the world’s best known footballers, Franz Beckenbauer, will make an appearance with matchball 1970 along with another German superstar and now coach of the national team, Jurgen Klinsmann who will be with the matchball 1990. The new matchball for 2006 will be presented at show at Messe
Goleo, the official mascot of the 2006 World Cup, will perform the official mascot song at the ceremony. The final draw function will also officially launch the charity campaign for this edition of the World Cup.
Apart from the official launches and presentations, the ceremony will also feature acts from Dutch magician and illusionist Hans Klok, Latin artist Juanes and the Young German Philharmonic Orchestra.
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.
