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IEC in Sports to distribute Carlsberg Cup
MUMBAI: The TV rights for the Asian football tourney Carlsberg Cup will again be distributed by IEC in Sports.
Croatia, South Korea and Denmark will visit Hong Kong and play in a tournament which marks the sporting centre piece of Chinese New Year for over 1.3 billion Chinese.
The event is Asia’s longest running national team invitational football tournament and takes place in the 40,000 seater Hong Kong National Stadium.
The draw sees Croatia play South Korea and Hong Kong vs. Denmark on 29 January. The winners and losers play-off in two further matches on 1 February to determine the four team rankings for the 2006 Carlsberg Cup.
Kam Sports International is promoting the event. The company’s director Keith D’Arcy says, “With two Fifa World Cup 2006 qualified teams and Denmark with a long football heritage, we are looking at a highly competitive tournament, perhaps the most competitive in the events’ fifteen year history.”
IEC in Sports CEO Jonas Persson says, “We expect significant interest from football fans around the globe, especially in watching Croatia and South Korea who reached the last four at World Cup ’98 and World Cup ‘2002 respectively”.
Past champions of the Carlsberg Cup have included Honduras (2002) Uruguay (2003) Norway (2004) Brazil (2005). IEC in Sports have represented the Carlsberg Cup since 2002.
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.
