News Headline
International Premier Tennis League announces India ticket sales
MUMBAI: The upcoming International Premier Tennis League (IPTL), along with the Micromax Indian Aces, announced that ticket sales for the Delhi leg of the inaugural league that will begin after the Diwali weekend. IPTL tickets for New Delhi will be available for sale through the Aces’ official online ticketing partner www.bookmyshow.com. Tickets will be released in phases; with close to 6,000 tickets available for sale, across price categories, during phase one.
Founder of IPTL Mahesh Bhupathi commented ,“Sports fans in India are in for a treat; having the opportunity to watch all these stars at one fixed price does not exist at any tennis event across the world.”
Roger Federer, 14 time Grand Slam Champion Pete Sampras, teammates Gael Monfils, Ana Ivanovic, Fabrice Santoro, and Indian players like Sania Mirza and Rohan Bopanna will make up the formidable Indian squad and take on the Manila Mavericks, the UAE Royals, and the Singapore Slammers during the three-day extravaganza.
With ticket prices ranging from Rs 3,240 to Rs 49,680, fans ranging from students to the country’s glitterati will be able to witness some of the best names from the world of tennis. Each ticket will allow spectators to watch the three day action (6,7 and 8 December 2014).
Other top stars that will play in New Delhi include Novak Djokovic, Caroline Wozniacki, Eugenie Bouchard, Goran Ivanisevic, Jo-Wilfried Tsonga, Daniela Hantuchova, Tomas Berdych, Lleyton Hewitt, Carlos Moya, Patrick Rafter, Kirsten Flipkens and Nenad Zimonjic.
Micromax Informatics CMO Shubhodip Pal said, “The tickets for the three days world-class event are priced to cater to all demographics of fans in the country. Our endeavor is to offer the best spectacle for sports enthusiasts and audiences in India to witness the biggest names in professional tennis play in India.”
The IPTL will come to India after charming tennis fans in the Philippines and Singapore. From New Delhi, the $1 million prize money league will travel to Dubai for its final leg from 11 to 13 December 2014.
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.
