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Season five of Tennis Premier League to air on Sony Sports Network
Mumbai: After the immense success and closely fought battles in the first four seasons of the Tennis Premier League (TPL), India’s Premier tennis tournament is set for a fifth season, which is slated to begin on 12 December, with a grand finale scheduled for 17 December 2023. The fifth season of the Tennis Premier League, powered by Clear, is determined to cater to a larger audience on Sony Sports Network, the broadcast destination for the league.
The following for tennis in India has been growing steadily, and fans have another chance to witness their favourite tennis stars at the fifth edition of the TPL, live in action on Sony Sports Ten 2 channels.
Pune Jaguars, Mumbai Leon Army, Delhi Binny’s Brigade, Gujarat Panthers, Punjab Tigers, Bengal Wizards, Hyderabad Strikers and Bengaluru Spartans are the teams in the fray, with prominent personalities such as Taapsee Pannu, Sonu Sood, Sonali Bendre, Rakul Preet Singh, Leander Paes and Sania Mirza associated with them.
Top Indian tennis talents such as Sumit Nagal, will play for the Gujarat Panthers after the current AITA number one was made the most expensive player at the auction by the franchise. Alongside Nagal, Hangzhou Asian Games silver medal-winning duo Ramkumar Ramanathan and Saketh Myneni will also feature in season five of TPL, as they will play for Bengaluru SG Mavericks and Hyderabad Strikers respectively. While Asian Games 2023 Gold Medallist, Rutuja Bhosale will don the colours of Pune Jaguars in season five of the TPL.
Along with them, foreign tennis athletes like former World No. 10 Ernests Gulbis and former World No. 26 Lukas Rosol, will feature for Mumbai Leon Army and Pune Jaguars respectively in the upcoming season. Additionally, current World No. 125 Maria Timofeeva was snapped up by Leander Paes-backed Bengal Wizards at the auction and the highest-ranked Austrian Tennis player in the world Dennis Novak will lead the charge for Delhi Binny’s Brigade in season five of the league.
Sony Pictures Networks India chief revenue officer – distribution & international business and head – sports business Rajesh Kaul said, “The Tennis Premier League has engaged audiences over the last four seasons with its fast-paced format. For tennis fans, the addition of India No. 1 Sumit Nagal, and 2023 Asian Games medallists Ramkumar Ramanathan, Saketh Myneni, and Rutuja Bhosale will be another reason to attract audiences for the fifth season of the league.”
“The fifth season of the TPL is being graced by some very entertaining tennis stars, who have walked the talk consistently at the highest level. The likes of Sumit Nagal, Ernests Gulbis, Ramkumar Ramanathan, and Karman Kaur Thandi will definitely be a big attraction for the fans, and we are confident that the trend of high-octane clashes will not be disturbed,” said TPL co-founder Kunal Thakkur.
“Over the past few years, the TPL with its healthy mix of high-quality sport and entertainment, has become one of the most awaited tournaments in India. And the fact that the tournament will be broadcast on Sony Sports Network, the home of the Australian Open and US Open, makes it even more special for us. May the best team win,” said TPL co-founder, Mrunal Jain.
All the franchises will play a total of match matches to qualify for the semi-finals as the league’s revolutionary format captures the imagination of tennis fans. All matches between the two franchises will comprise Men’s Singles, Women’s Singles, Mixed Doubles and Men’s Doubles. There will be 80 points at stake in each tie between two franchises, where each category would be worth 20 points. Each team will play a total of 400 points (80 points x 5 matches) at the league stage. All games of the TPL will be played in the Balewadi Stadium in Pune.
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.
