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Former La Liga stars to attend live ‘EL Clasico’ telecast in India
MUMBAI: La Liga plans to host live screening of the Spanish football league match on 3 December in Mumbai and Delhi. The showpiece match “El Clasico” will be played between traditional rivals Real Madrid and FC Barcelona.
Former La Liga star Luis Garcia will attend the screening in New Delhi while Frederic Kanoute will be present at the Mumbai screening.
La Liga recently established its India office in New Delhi and will organise the event with the aim of popularising the league in India. Live screening of sporting events on a huge screen is popular in Europe, IANS reported.
On the telecast evening, there will be big screens, food and beverage stalls as well as fan engagement activities at the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium in New Delhi and Khar Gymkhana in Mumbai.
La Liga president Javier Tebas stated in a release that their aim was to take La Liga across the world, and further establish the league as one that was global and inclusive. They feel that the most important way to grow was to be closer to their fans, and provide them with newer, more exciting experience.
Both Barcelona and Real Madrid were hugely popular in India, and they feel that they owe the passionate fans of the league, a chance to experience such an event. That was a big step, and what they believed would be a great start to their journey in India, Tebas added.
Garcia, who played for FC Barcelona and Atletico de Madrid in La Liga said it would be a great experience for him to watch El Clasico with the fans in India. He said he had seen the passion for football among the fans, and he felt that those were great initiatives to further grow La Liga in India.
Former Sevilla striker Frederic Kanoute added that it would be his first visit to India, and he had heard a lot of great things about the popularity of La Liga in India. He said he was looking forward to meeting the fans and enjoying one of the biggest matches in world football.
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.
