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Hero Indian Super League 2019-20 doubles viewership for the Opening Game this season
MUMBAI: India’s premier football league – Hero Indian Super League (ISL) Season 6, had a spectacular star studded opening in Kochi on October 20th, 2019. The season opener between arch rivals Kerala Blasters FC and ATK registered 1.2 TVR and 96%** growth in TV ratings among M15+AB Urban and an impressive 97% viewership growth on Hotstar over last season. The two teams have a long history and have met previously in two finals – 2014 and 2016, both of which were won by ATK. Kochi’s Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium was a sea of yellow and the home side gave its fans a lot to celebrate by winning the highly contested game 2-1 and setting a standard for the ongoing season. The fans also witnessed high octane performances by Bollywood Superstars Tiger Shroff and Disha Patani who grooved to their superhit tracks and joined in the celebrations.
There has been a consistent rise in the fan following for Indian football in the country and the Hero ISL, the premier football league of India, has been at the heart of this revolution getting bigger and better with each passing year. A seven month wait ended with the highly anticipated season opener that had fans glued to their TV & mobile screens which was broadcast in 7 languages and 20 channels. This season with the inclusion of the two new teams, Hyderabad FC and Odisha FC, the Hero ISL will see more diverse fan cultures and an increase in the footprint of Indian football in new frontiers.
Opening with a flying start, the Hero Indian Super League, will be bigger and better than ever before, with more audiences expected to tune-in to catch their favourite team battle for the championship and coveted AFC Champions League play-offs spot.
Fans can catch all the football action in the Hero Indian Super League Season 6 on the Star Sports Network, Hotstar and Jio TV
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.
