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Khelo India Youth Games and Sports For All are all set to revolutionise grassroots sports India
Mumbai: The much-awaited Khelo India Youth Games 2023, Tamil Nadu edition began on 19 January 2024, with competitions being held across four cities – Chennai, Coimbatore, Madurai, and Trichy. The Khelo India Youth Games (KIYG) is a flagship competition where emerging sporting talent is inspired and motivated, to harness their potential as future Champions. With the aligned commitment to transform grassroots sports in India across disciplines, Sports For All (SFA) continues the commitment towards Khelo India Youth Games (KIYG), in the second year of the sponsorship.
Sports Authority of India (SAI) DDG Ekta Vishnoi shared, “Propelling India onto the global sporting map begins with discovering India’s untapped sporting talent. Khelo India Youth Games was launched with the vision to bring about change in the country’s sporting ecosystem, at the grassroots level. Aligning our commitment with the strength that Sports For All (SFA) has been building, is what makes this partnership a landmark in developing a sporting nation. Hosting the games for the first time in southern India, the debut of squash and Tamil Nadu’s oldest weapon-based martial arts form Silambam, launching the first woman mascot – these firsts narrate the new era of sports in the country, and we are proud to have team SFA join this journey.”
SFA has been an integral part of the Khelo India Youth Games in Haryana, Pune and Guwahati. In 2023, coming on board as the ‘powered by’ sponsor, SFA committed an investment of Rs. 12.5crores (for five years), emphasizing on the unwavering dedication to discover young sporting talent in the country. As sponsors, SFA gets on-ground branding and the company’s logo is displayed on the player jerseys. This year (2024) for Khelo India Youth Games(KIYG), SFA is organizing the on-ground games across Tamil Nadu, providing their rich expertise in managing multi-sport experiences.
Speaking about the partnership, Sports For All (SFA) COO Rajas Joshi elaborated, “At SFA, our aim is to enable athletes to begin their sporting journey with SFA Championships and eventually represent at the State, National and International platforms. Our partnership with Khelo India Youth Games is a perfect synergy of our shared vision to empower young athletes and provide them with a platform to showcase their incredible talent. Having seamlessly conducted editions of Khelo India Youth Games, two editions of National Games and more than 21 SFA Championships, our efforts are focused to contribute significantly towards the development of grassroots sports, in India”.
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.
