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Extreme H extends Sony partnership, betting on India for hydrogen racing
MUMBAI: Extreme H, the FIA-backed hydrogen-powered motorsport series, has extended its broadcast partnership with Sony Pictures Networks India through the end of the 2028 season, sharpening its push into one of the world’s fastest-growing media and clean-mobility markets.
Under the renewed multi-year agreement, Sony Pictures Networks India (SPNI) will continue to air live races, highlights and digital content from the FIA Extreme H World Cup across its television channels and streaming platform Sony Liv. The deal builds on a partnership first announced in 2024, which introduced Indian audiences to hydrogen-fuelled racing as a successor to Extreme E.
The extension reflects India’s rising relevance in the global clean-energy conversation, with hydrogen increasingly positioned as a future mobility solution. For Extreme H, the broadcast alliance is less about visibility alone and more about narrative scale, using elite motorsport to normalise sustainable technology through mass entertainment.
Sony Pictures Networks India chief revenue officer and business head, sports and international Rajesh Kaul, said the series had struck a chord with viewers seeking premium motorsport aligned with a sustainability mission. FIA Extreme H World Cup managing director Ali Russell, described India as a critical growth region, citing SPNI’s reach and storytelling strength as central to audience expansion.
Extreme H will continue to showcase every championship round in India, reinforcing SPNI’s sports portfolio, which already spans cricket, football, tennis, combat sports and electric racing through Formula E. The renewal also strengthens Sony Sports Network’s positioning as a destination for future-facing sport, blending competition with climate-conscious technology.
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.
