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IPL 2021: Usha International partners with Mumbai Indians
MUMBAI: For the eighth year in a row, consumer durables manufacturer Usha International has come onboard as an official partner of Mumbai Indians ahead of the 14th season of the Indian Premier League. As part of the association, the Usha logo will be seen on the leading side caps and helmets of MI players and on the mat during specified match toss.
LED walls, jumbo screens, and perimeter boards across the ground will play up the Usha brand at various points during the game. A series of activations across various digital platforms to grow stakeholder engagement and brand recall are also in the works. This includes contests on days when Mumbai Indians is playing, wherein consumers can win an opportunity to virtually interact with their favourite MI players. Additionally, Usha will also launch a digital campaign, featuring select players.
Usha International head – sports initiatives and associations Komal Mehra said, “Consistent effort delivers consistent performance and that is the story of Mumbai Indian – the most successful team in the league. Usha as a brand personifies resilience and consistency, attributes which sync beautifully with MI as a team. The players in the MI team are a living testament to promoting an active and healthy lifestyle which is Usha's brand ethos as well. We look forward to ‘play’ with Mumbai Indians this season.”
A Mumbai Indians spokesperson said, “We are pleased to continue our association with Usha International. They have been part of the Mumbai Indians family for eight years now, one of the longest partnerships in sports sponsorships in India. Our association with Usha reflects the faith and commitment vested in each other by both brands over the course of all these years. We look forward to yet another successful campaign with them, setting new benchmarks on and off the field.”
IPL 2021 opening match is set to be played between defending champion Mumbai Indians and Royal Challengers Bangalore on 9 April in M A Chidambaram Stadium, Chennai. The tournament will be a closed event to begin with and a call on allowing spectators will be taken at a later stage.
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.
