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Sky Sports launches #MyAshesSummer campaign
MUMBAI: Sky Sports is for the first time asking fans to send in their own images to feature in its new TV ad, celebrating why an Ashes summer is like no other.
The campaign captures what an Ashes summer means to players and supporters. Using #MyAshesSummer, fans can send in their own content, whether that’s selfies from the ground or pictures of friends and family coming together at home or in the pub to take on the Aussies together.
Those user-generated images will sit alongside footage of great Ashes moments as well as behind the scenes content from the Sky Sports cricket team, capturing the spirit of the series and the upbeat mood of the nation.
The TV ad will be updated after every Test, so viewers have plenty of chances to be part of the campaign by sharing images or video using Facebook, Twitter, Instagram or Vine. Sky Sports has also created a landing page with a media wall to feature even more of the content. #MyAshesSummer will be used on screen as part of the coverage on both Sky Sports Ashes and Sky Sports News HQ.
Sky Sports head of sports marketing Catherine Parsons said, “The Ashes is the pinnacle of cricket for English and Australian cricketers and for fans, no other competition matters more. It will bring us all together and our Sky Sports campaigns about capturing that mood of the nation through selfies, tweets, Instagram videos and status updates. By using #MyAshesSummer, viewers have the chance to be part of the great summer of sporting drama and show the nation why an Ashes summer is like no other.”
Sky Sports 2 will become ‘Sky Sports Ashes’ for two months of non-stop cricket television from 1 July, giving viewers a week of build up before the first Test. The channel will show every ball live from the men’s and women’s series and fans can tune in wherever they are via Sky Go, and online TV streaming service, Now TV, to watch without a contract.
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.
