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Hong Kong Cricket Sixes returns after seven years
Mumbai: The highly anticipated Hong Kong Cricket Sixes returns from 1 to 3 November, promising thrilling matches at the Tin Kwong Road Cricket Ground with 12 teams competing in six-a-side games.
Spectators will enjoy a unique experience with exciting performances, great music, and delicious food. The teams are divided into four pools of three, with India, led by Robin Uthappa, in Pool C alongside Pakistan and the UAE. Hosts Hong Kong face South Africa and New Zealand in Pool A, while Pool B includes Australia, England, and Nepal. Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, and Oman compete in Pool D.
The tournament will kick off with the first match between South Africa and Hong Kong, and the highly anticipated India-Pakistan clash will also occur on the opening day. The top two teams from each pool will advance to the quarter-finals, with the winners moving to the semi-finals. Losing quarter-finalists will compete in the Plate semi-finals, and the bottom team in each pool will participate in the Bowl Competition. A total of 29 matches will take place over three days.
A Women’s Exhibition Match is scheduled for the final day to celebrate the 75th anniversary of the founding of the People’s Republic of China.
Tune in to Star Sports and Fancode to catch all the matches of the Hong Kong Sixes 2024, starting at 8:15 am (Hong Kong Time) and 5:45 am (IST).
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.
