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SET also in fray for Lankan cricket rights
MUMBAI: Sony Entertainment Television India, along with Trans World International and PCM Sports (India), have thrown their hats into the ring along with current contenders Taj TV and World Sports Nimbus for international TV broadcasting rights for cricket in Sri Lanka between January 2004 and December 2006.
Last month, the Board of Control for Cricket in Sri Lanka, now christened Sri Lanka Cricket, initiated the three year agreement bidding process. The five contenders will now have to slug it out for the rights, plagued by controversy thus far.
Both ESPN Star Sports and Indian pubcaster Doordarshan, according to a Sri Lanka Cricket announcement, have indicated their interest only in the event of tours by India to Sri Lanka during this period.
Broadcast rights to Sri Lankan cricket were with World Sports Nimbus till October 2001 when the Lankan Board revoked the rights claiming delays in payment of dues on the part of the sports marketing company. Taj TV then stepped in, bagging the rights till August 2004, but WSN retaliated by filing a $ 11 million damages claim against BCCSL before a Singapore tribunal.
After much parleys, Sri Lanka Cricket decided to honour the agreement with Taj Television but only as far as England’s tour of the island next month was concerned. Taj’s subsidiary Ten Sports will air the matches in Asia and Europe.
For Sony meanwhile, it is the second time round that it is making a play for Lanka cricket. The broadcaster had bagged telecast rights in August 1999 to cover cricket for a period of 18 months in the island country, for a reported $7.75 million, starting with the AIWA Cup, followed by the three Test series between Sri Lanka and Australia.
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.
