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India leg of FIA APRC 2003 flagged off in Mumbai
MUMBAI: A crowd of about 2,000 people that had gathered outside the National Centre of Performing Arts at Nariman Point, Mumbai for the ceremonial flag-off the MRF India Rally 2003, the concluding round of the FIA Asia Pacific Rally Championship, was treated to a heady mix of panache and power on Thursday evening.
Screeching tyres and gorgeous cars were in full display this afternoon. The Flag-off ceremony of the fifth and the final round of the FIA Asia Pacific Rally Championship (APRC) 2003 took place in Mumbai.
Preceded by a short but well-choreographed dance act, Armin Kremer and Fred Bressen of Team MRF, the leaders in Group N drove up the ramp in their Mitsubishi Lancer Evo 7 and were flagged off by the deputy Chief Minister of Maharashtra, Shri Chhagan Bhujbal, followed by Austrian David Doppelreiter and Ola Floene, also of Team MRF and NewZealanders Geof Argyle and Steve Smith, overall leaders.
A total of 11 foreign cars were followed by 14 cars of the Indian National Rally Championship and were led down Marine Drive in a parade before setting off for Pune, where the rally will be run in and around Panshet, about 40 kms from Pune.
The event at Pune takes place from 5-7 December. The drivers will have to navigate their way through 250 km of dirt track in 13 stages. The rally will start tomorrow at 9 am at the government engineering college in Pune and will end at the monumental “seat of the Peshwas” (Maratha rulers).
At the flag off ceremony Maharashtra Deputy CM Chhagan Bhujbal was the guest of honour. He flagged off the first set of APRC cars from the ramp. The drivers were garlanded with flowers. Television hostess Mandira Bedi was the master of ceremonies introducing each driver.
As reported earlier by Indiantelevision.com, the Himachal Rally Association (HRA), Western India Automobile Association (WIAA), Western India Sports Association (WISA) and SportzPR are all involved in organising this event in India. HRA chairman Nazir Hoosein said, ” Beginnings are never easy and this has been tougher than most.
After 13 years an international motor sports event is taking place. We had to start from scratch. The infrastructure that was present for the Himalayan Rally was destroyed. In addition the roads in Pune were ruined by the heavy monsoon. However a lot of work has gone into preparing the track.”
One of the teams from New Zealand mentioned that the stages were rougher as compared to what they were used to back home. However they found the big friendly crowds invigorating. Another driver from Australia Mark Stacy mentioned that the Indian course was very narrow and tricky. Therefore not getting sidestepped is going to prove a real challenge. In addition to the APRC which has around 10 teams 15 local teams will compete in a round of Indian National Rally Championship (INRC)
Bedi said that the Taj Blue Diamond would serve as the events headquarters. The special F1 fuel had been procured from Japan while spare parts had been gotten from Holland. Star Sports will have a half hour wrap of each day at 3 pm, 10:30 pm on 5 December, 1 pm, 7:30 pm on 6 December and at the same time the next day. On 8 December there will be highlights at 3 pm.
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.
