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Ministry begins Rio performance review with an eye on 2020
NEW DELHI: A thorough review of India’s performance in Rio Olympics 2016 by the sports ministry has begun in the backdrop of the prime minister Narendra Modi announcement of establishing a task force to prepare for future Olympics.
Sports Minister Vijay Goel has written to each of the athletes who participated at Rio, seeking their suggestions. He has stated that they should feel free to give their feedback. In his letter, Goel has stressed the need for more inputs from performers like them so that the pool of world-class athletes can be enhanced and sports infrastructure strengthened.
The ministry has also written to the Indian Olympic Association (IOA) to submit their feedback on India’s performance in Rio and steps needed for improvement. Such feedback will also be sought from the National Sports Federations (NSFs).
Goel will have detailed meetings with the IOA and the NSFs shortly in this regard. The objective of this exercise is to analyse performance.
Modi had announced setting up a task force to prepare a comprehensive action plan for effective participation of Indian sportspersons in the next three Olympic games 2020, 2024 and 2028.
The ministry will also take a look at the duties and responsibilities of various members of the Indian contingent for the Rio Olympics with the purpose of making a fair assessment of their role and taking steps for improvement.
Goel will visit some prominent academies and Sports Authority of India Centres to have first-hand knowledge of the facilities available for training and improvement required. On 17 September, he will visit the Gopi Chand Badminton Academy in Hyderabad where he will meet players, coaches and other support persons. He will also visit the SAI Centre at Hyderabad.
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.
