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Neo Sports acquires rights of Copa Italia and The French Cup
MUMBAI: Neo Sports Broadcast Network is surging ahead with global events of great appeal for the sports audience. Spearheading sports content seamlessly, this time football takes the centre stage. After the recent broadcast of the FIFA Club World Cup, Neo Sports has now bagged the rights of iconic international tournaments: Coppa Italia (Italian Cup – 2015-16) and The French Cup (Coupe De France 2015-16).
Speaking to Indiantelevision.com Neo Sports EVP Programming Mautik Tolia said, “Both the tournaments are competitive and there are quality players playing in them which is why we decided to go ahead and acquire the rights.”
Coppa Italia, officially known as the TIM CUP is an annual competition which began in 1922. This league is a highly competitive tournament and something football fans are eagerly waiting for. With AC Milan and Juventus clashing in the final in May, there will be some fabulous action. Players like Carlos Bacca, Paulo Dybala, Mario Balotelli, and Paul Pogba will pump up the action.
The French Cup is a highly prestigious league at par with the English Premier League. Some frenzied action is due as the semi-finals between Lorient and PSG and Sochaux versus Marseille will mean full on football. Top players like Zlatan Ibrahimovic and Abou Diaby are all set to show their histrionic skills. The biggest motivation for the participating teams is that the winners of the respective cups get a direct qualification to the UEFA Europa League. The finals of Coppa and the Semi-finals as well as the finals of the French Cup will be broadcast live and exclusive on Neo Sports.
Tolia further added, “We are ecstatic to bring these exciting matches, which will produce some exciting football and amazing talent. However it is not just soccer but any kind of niche sport which we believe our audience deserves to experience. Neo Sports remains committed in its efforts to bring the best and most sought after sports for its dear audience.”
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.
