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Mumbai to host ATP tournament in September
MUMBAI: Following a calendar switch, Mumbai is becoming the second city in India after Chennai to host an ATP tournament. Mumbai replaces the $380,000 Vietnam Open in Ho Chi Minh City, tennis’ governing body said in a statement issued Monday.
The Mumbai Open will take place between 25 September and 1 October and will be held at the The Cricket Club. Ahead of the event, the CCI will be renovated to include a new 3,500-seat Centre Court plus two match courts and two practice courts.
Globosport India, promoted by doubles ace Mahesh Bhupathi, will be responsible for the marketing, management and promotion of the Mumbai Open.
The big question of course will be who gets the telecast rights for this event. With Zee Sports making its presence felt and even Sahara getting into the sports broadcast game, expect another bidding war.
The telecast rights of the $400,000 Chennai Open were awarded to Star Sports by IMG, which owns and organizes the tournament. IMG’s television division, TWI, was responsible for producing the programming for the Chennai Open.
Till now the Chennai Open was India’s and South Asia’s only ATP event. It was hosted at the Nungambakkam Stadium in Chennai from 2 – 8 January and was telecast on Star Sports in the India sub-continent, including India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, Nepal, Maldives, and Bhutan.
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.
