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Milkha Singh wins McDowell’s golf tournament
MUMBAI: Former athlete Flying Sikh Milkha Singh came out on top at the 2004 edition of the annual McDowell’s Signature Celebrity Golf tournament. The event was held on Sunday at the US Club in downtown Mumbai amidst much ‘glamfare’.
Meanwhile, former pace bowler Venkatesh Prasad and former MP Digvijay Singh were adjudged the first and second runner up respectively. UB Group chairman Vijay Mallya gave away the prizes.
Preparatory events leading up to the finale had been held in Bangalore, New Delhi and Mumbai. The highlight of the event was the new golfing formats that were introduced for the first time.
Talking about the reason for the association with the event, Mallya said, “At the UB Group, we have always strived to be the best in everything we attempt. It is this attitude that has made us a world-beater. The UB Group today enjoys clear and unchallenged leadership in every sphere it operates in – be it our businesses or the causes we support. McDowell’s Signature Celebrity Golf, which has redefined celebrity sport in the country, is a case in the point.
” The do with its unorthodox approach has set new standards in golfing. A sport which hitherto was preserve of the very exclusive, is now in the throes of getting into popular mindspace.”
The event which was held for the second time in a row is donating its proceeds to Champs Foundation. This is former batting maestro Sunil Gavaskar’s sporting initiative for deserving sportspersons of yesteryears.
This year, film stars, sporting personalities and corporate honchos, including cricketer Rahul Dravid, television host Mandira Bedi and former Australian skipper Allan Border, competed.
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.
