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IndiaWin Sports clarifies Mumbai Indians is not a bidder in ISL
MUMBAI: The curiosity around the Indian Super League football seems to be building with the organisers having received positive responses from many interested parties. It was in keeping with this that the deadline for submitting the bid documents had been extended by two days to 26 and 27 March.
While there has been much speculation around who all could be vying to own the eight city franchises; there have been rumours that IndiaWins Sports – owner of the IPL franchise Mumbai Indians – allegedly bid for the Mumbai team as it also happens to be a ‘League Partner’ for the city.
IndiaWin Sports released a press statement saying: “We have received several media queries over the last few days on whether we have bid for a franchise in the Indian Super League. Most of these queries are specific to the interest Mumbai Indians ‘must’ have in being a ‘League Partner’ for the city of Mumbai.”
“IndiaWin Sports, which owns the IPL franchise Mumbai Indians, wishes to state that we have not bid for a franchise in the upcoming Indian Super League,” the statement added.
The Indian Super League certainly provides a promising opportunity for a sports brand to develop unique connect, brand extension and value creation. “However adhering to the highest standards of corporate governance and transparency, and in the larger interest of the sport, the management at IndiaWin Sports had taken a conscious decision not to participate in the bidding process,” the statement further said.
ISL aims to be India’s next major sports property. Having put in place the foundational structure, it is now at the homestretch identifying the ‘League Partners’ who will form the pillar of this professional league.
Eight committed team owners (to be known as League Partners) will be selected as per a sophisticated evaluated criteria encompassing financial and developmental parameters. The league aims to unlock the aspirational energy in the youth, build a stage for talents and teams to flourish, co-create a vibrant ecosystem, and make the sport a national mission by giving much – needed impetus to the game of football.
Some of the big names from the country’s corporate world, Bollywood biggies and present sports team owners have shown keen interest to be part of the tourney.
The league was to begin in January but had to be postponed owing to issues like scheduling and lack of a window.
The winning bids announcement will take place in the second week of April. Ernst & Young, the advisory firm, has been entrusted the responsibility of evaluating the bid documents.
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.
