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NBA to hold 2 pre-season games in India next year
MUMBAI: USA’s National Basketball Association (NBA) announced that two pre-season games will be played in India in October 2019 which makes it the first North American sports league to make its foray into the country.
The two pre-season games will be played by Indiana Pacers and Sacramento Kings on 4 and 5 October 2019 at the NSCI Dome in Worli, Mumbai.
NBA India MD Yannick Colaco said, “Last season of NBA was watched by 120 million viewers. More than 350 live NBA games are available each season on Sony Pictures Network’s sports cluster, including 78 games with Hindi commentary. NBA merchandise in India is widely available like never before, there are 700 retail stores across the country. Our long standing partnership with Reliance Foundation continues to positively impact millions of boys and girls. We launched our first global NBA school in Mumbai in April 2017 and we now have 27 active NBA basketball schools in nine cities across India.”
Sony is the official broadcaster of NBA in India till 2020 as the extended deal between both is of 5 years that got renewed in 2015.
NBA deputy commissioner Mark Tatum said, “Being the financial, media and entertainment capital of India we have decided to keep it in Mumbai. In order to fans consuming the product they need to start young and need to play the game of basketball.”
“I think fans pay for great consumer experience, we see that in cricket. The growth in viewership has been exponentially well. Seven years ago we have 5 million viewers and last season we had 120 million viewers. For us, the time is right because we have invested in grassroot development and facilitating infrastructure,” Colaco added.
The NBA India Games 2019 will be produced by BookMyShow and AEG and supported by a roster of marketing and merchandising partners.
NBA commissioner Adam Silver said, “Our inaugural NBA India games will help further tap the enormous basketball potential in a country with a thriving sports culture and a growing, young and engaged population. We thank the Kings and Pacers organisations for participating in this historic event.”
The youth development initiatives in India, including the Reliance Foundation Jr. NBA program that has reached more than 10 million youth from 10,000 schools and trained more than 10,000 physical education instructors nationwide since its launch in 2013.
The ongoing 2018-19 season also includes five consecutive Sunday games from 10 March to 7 April that will air in primetime in India, marking the second straight year that five games will be televised in primetime.
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.
