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Laver Cup: DSport acquires exclusive India broadcast rights
MUMBAI: Dsport, a sports TV channel by Discovery Communications India, has acquired the exclusive India broadcast rights of the inaugural edition of Laver Cup.
The new premier tennis tournament, conceived on the lines of golf’s ‘Ryder Cup’, will see tennis legends from Europe battle it out against a star-studded Rest of the World team. The Laver Cup will be broadcast live and exclusive on Dsport from 4:30pm on 22 and 23 September, and 3:30pm onwards on 24 September 2017.
DSport’s wide portfolio of live sports content includes the best of Wrestling, football, cycling, horse-racing, golf, Tennis, motorsports, and extreme sports
The Laver Cup will be played every year, two weeks following the US Open which is also Dsport’s property, except in the Summer Olympic years.
The city of Prague, in the Czech Republic will play host to the first edition of the three-day tennis extravaganza. The tournament will feature the current top two in men’s tennis, legends Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal who will team up with Dominic Thiem, Alexander Zverev, Marin Cilic and Thomas Berdych to take on a rest of the world team that comprises of rising superstar Denis Shapovalov, former US Open Champion Juan Martin del Potro, Nick Kyrgios, John Isner and Sam Querry.
The Laver Cup, is named after Australian tennis legend Rod Laver, widely regarded as one of the greatest in the history of the sport. The Laver Cup is a joint initiative between tennis great Roger Federer’s management company Team 8, Brazilian businessman and former Davis Cup player Jorge Paulo Lemann, the USTA and Tennis Australia. For the inaugural edition of the Laver Cup, tennis legends John McEnroe and Bjorn Borg will captain Team World and Team Europe, respectively.
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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.
