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Muthoot Finance announces collaboration with FICCI
Mumbai: Muthoot Finance Ltd., India’s leading gold loan provider announced the inaugural Corporate Sports Championship Kochi 2023, in collaboration with the Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce & Industry (FICCI). This exciting event aims to bring together over 20 leading corporate firms from Kochi and its surrounding areas.
While sports have a blend of values that reflects on our day-to-day life, it also enables an individual to build strong relationships in a workplace among colleagues. Participating in sports cultivates discipline, enhances workplace bonds, and sharpens essential skills. On similar lines, the Corporate Sports Championship Kochi 2023 targets to foster sportsmanship and camaraderie among participants, promoting a vibrant corporate sporting culture. The opening, held on 13 October 2023, at Abad Plaza, MG Road, Cochin, featured the logo unveiling. The event was graced by chief guest Shri. Hibi Eden, MP Ernakulam, Key note address Adv M. AnilKumar, Mayor, Kochi Municipal Corporation and Shri. George M. Jacob, Deputy Managing Director, Muthoot Finance and Shri. Savio Mathew, Head FICCI Kerala State Council.
Some of the key corporates like EY, FCI OEN Connectors Ltd., Geojit Financial Services Ltd., KIMSHEALTH Trivandrum, Lulu Group, Muthoot Finance, Muthoot Microfin Ltd, Olam Food Ingredients India Private Limited, Pothys Retail PVT LTD, SFO TECHNOLOGIES PRIVATE LIMITED (NEST GROUP), TCS, V-Guard Industries Ltd, Baker Hughes, Bhima Jewels Pvt Ltd, UST GLOBALS, and DP World will engage in spirited competitions like Cricket, Football and Badminton.
During the inauguration ceremony, lot draws where conducted to determine the match fixtures for the sports events. Subsequent matches will be held on Saturdays and Sundays over the following weekends, promising thrilling action and intense competition. The prize money for winners under Football and Cricket is Rs. 50,000. The runner up will get Rs.20,000. The winners and runner ups for Badminton will receive Rs.5000 and Rs.2500 respectively. The total prize money offered for the championship will be Rs. 1,77,500.
As part of this inauguration ceremony, Muthoot Finance deputy managing director George M. Jacob said, “We are thrilled to join hands with FICCI to bring the Corporate Sports Championship to Kochi. This event underlines the significance of physical fitness, teamwork, and the valuable lessons sports offer about training, goal-setting, overcoming setbacks, and achieving success. It also provides an excellent platform for networking and fostering corporate relationships in a sporting environment. We look forward to an exciting and successful championship. May the best sportsperson win”.
Speaking at the event, Ernakulam MP chief guest Hibi Eden said, “It gives me immense pleasure to witness industry players like Muthoot Finance and FICCI uniting to bring the Corporate Sports Championship to Kochi. Sports have the power to unite, inspire, and build bonds. It’s a pleasure to be a part of an event that promotes sportsmanship and unity in the corporate world.”
“As we come together for the Corporate Sports Championship 2023, I’m honored to be a part of Muthoot Finance and FICCI in our mission to build unity and sportsmanship within the corporate fabric of Kochi. Let us not only compete but also collaborate to foster a vibrant sporting culture in our city,” said Kochi Municipal Corporation adv M. AnilKumar.
FICCI Kerala State Corporate head Savio Mathew stated, “The collaboration between Muthoot Finance and FICCI reflects our commitment to cultivate a flourishing and well-balanced corporate community, prioritizing the physical and emotional well-being of India Inc. We’re excited to be a part of this transformative journey, enriching the corporate landscape in Kochi and emphasizing the pivotal role of sports in our corporate culture.”
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.
