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Premier Futsal announces 3 year association with football legend Ronaldinho
MUMBAI: Premier Futsal, the world’s biggest Futsal tournament is all set to further strengthen its position as a sporting league with Season 2. Former Ballon D’or winner and Brazilian football player, Ronaldinho has extended his association with the league by 3 years.
Premier Futsal has also collaborated with Dubai Sports Council which takes the tournament beyond the Indian territory with Semi Finals and Finals scheduled to take place in Dubai. With Goa paving way for Delhi and Bangalore as hosts, the geographical representation of the league has now grown to 4 cities, and more than 24 matches spread across two weeks further strengthen its status as the biggest futsal tournament in the world.
The tournament begins on 15 September will travel to Mumbai, Delhi and Bangalore before culminating in Dubai with the ultimate battle of Futsal supremacy taking place on 1 October. The six teams will play each other 7 times prior to the semi-finals which will also take place in the port city. All the matches will be broadcasted live on Sony Network.
Premier Futsal Chairman Xavier Britto said, “We are extremely proud to have been a part of this remarkable journey that Premier Futsal has traversed in such a short span of time. Guided by Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s call for innovation and entrepreneurship, and motivated by his vision to make India a successful sporting nation, we are committed to foster and expand the sport even further allowing for sports enthusiasts from different geographies to come forward and engage with Futsal”
The marquee futsal tournament revealed RR Kable Group Proprietors Rajesh Kabra and Hemant Kabra, as the Mumbai team owners of the league. Commenting on the announcement, Rajesh Kabra said, “Premier Futsal has seen significant traction in its first edition and has clearly gained stickiness amongst its TG. It gives us immense pleasure to be able to facilitate the growth of the unique sport in the city of Mumbai through this association and enable it to be an integral part of one of India’s fastest growing sports properties.”
Premier Futsal MD Dinesh Raj said, “The fixtures for this year’s tournament have been scheduled keeping in mind the imparting of a wholesome Futsal experience to sports enthusiasts not only in India but across the world. We envision Premier Futsal to be one of the leading global sports properties in the coming years and the current expansion and diversification of Premier Futsal is in line with this vision of ours.”
Present to mark the landmark moment, the Brazilian Football legend, Ronaldinho said, “I enjoyed and loved playing in India last year and entertaining the audience. I love the food and warmth of the Indian people. Futsal has been an important part of my life ever since I started indulging in the sport as a young kid. Premier Futsal has quickly become the biggest futsal event in the world and I am here to support this league in the long term, and make it a huge success globally. Now with Season 2 of the tournament, we want to break the glass ceiling and set the benchmark for sporting leagues across the world. We want to inspire more and more youngsters to take up the sport and all of our efforts especially the Launch Pad are directed towards bringing in youth closer to the game.”
Mediapro, a global leader in broadcast media, marketing and sport has also made its foray in the Indian market with Premier Futsal. The strategic alliance will facilitate and create an intellectual property for Premier Futsal globally. The Spanish company will engage in delivering marketing solutions and services along with the production and distribution for all matches in season 2. Dr. Kiran Kumar, promoter of Lalitha Jewellery was also announced as a key investor in the independent sporting venture.
Premier Futsal, the world’s largest futsal promotions company is bringing football legends, futsal superstars and home-grown talent on a unique platform in a never-seen-before made-for-TV product. The tournament was broadcasted in United Kingdom, Middle East, Europe, South America and South East Asia regions other than India. Season 2 only promises to be bigger and more engaging with more match days, greater number of host cities and a varied range of global superstars all set to participate in the sporting spectacle. The tickets for the marquee sporting event will go live soon and will available on Paytm.
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.
