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Important to make sports TV friendly for viewers, says Viren Rasquinha
MUMBAI: For the upcoming Hero Hockey India League (HIL) the Mumbai franchise has roped in former Hockey India captain Viren Rasquinha as its strategic advisor and mentor. Rasquinha is also the CEO of Olympic Gold Quest (OGQ).
OGQ is a non-profit organisation, founded by Indian sporting legends like Geet Sethi and Prakash Padukone that helps Indian athletes win Olympic Gold medals. One of the athletes that is part of the organisations portfolio is five time Amateur Boxing World Champion – Mary Kom.
Speaking about the organisation, Rasquinha informs, “We currently support the training of 58 athletes across six individual Olympic sports like badminton, boxing, shooting, athletics, archery and wrestling. We are happy with the progress at the London 2012 Olympics as four out of the six Olympic medal winners were supported by OGQ. These are Vijay Kumar, Gagan Narang, Saina Nehwal and Mary Kom. And incidentally post the Olympics the other two winners Sushil Kumar and Yogeshwar Dutt are also supported by us.”
Moreover, athletes supported by OGQ have won 16 medals at the 2014 Commonwealth Games and 13 medals at the Incheon Asian Games.
Rasquinha was speaking at an event where Mary Kom was presented a Rs 5 lakh cheque by Edelweiss that was collected via crowd funding. This was followed by a discussion on how the sports portfolio in India is seeing a growth through ongoing alternate sports leagues. Voicing his opinions on the improved television coverage of sports he comments, “Television coverage is definitely helping the growth of sports. I feel TV is the king today. And it is very important to make it a good package on screen. Star Sports for example has done a fantastic job in producing the Hockey India League, Pro Kabaddi League and the ongoing Indian Super League. I also think it’s important to make sports TV friendly for viewers.”
On the opportunities presented by the upcoming leagues, he says, “It is a good sign for Indian sports as it is now becoming more mature and professional. It has attracted better TV coverage and sponsorships. Leagues are also presenting multiple job opportunities. But the quality of performance of Indian teams in the respective sports will only improve when we rub shoulders with the best talent in the world.”
Delving into the upcoming season of HIL and Olympics, he says that Olympics remains a big challenge and it is important to keep improving and helping athletes in the best possible way. Rasquinha is also excited about the new role coming his way as the mentor of HIL’s Mumbai franchise and is content with the coaching team and the players selected.
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.
