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Sony India unveils #KoiKasarNahi campaign for Asian Games
MUMBAI: The 18th edition of Asian games is all set to go on floors from 18 August to 2 September 2018 in the Indonesian cities of Jakarta and Palembang. Meanwhile Sony Pictures Networks India (SPN) today announced its marketing and digital initiatives for the pan-Asian multi-sport event. With India being one of the first five founding members of the Asian Games, expectations from our contingent are always high.
Be it the Olympics, Commonwealth Games or Asian Games, Indian athletes have never left any stone unturned in their quest to win medals and proudly represent the country. With this backdrop, SPN launched its campaign ‘Koi Kasar Nahi’.
As a part of the campaign, SPN will be hosting a ‘Fan Flame’ on its microsite https://sonypicturessportsnetwork.com/koikasarnahi/. Inspired by the Asian Games torch that burns in the cauldron for the duration of the Games, the virtual Fan Flame will burn brighter with every message of support that goes out to the athletes.
In order to show support and add to the fan flame, all fans have to do is use the hashtag #KoiKasarNahi on social media platforms like Facebook, Twitter and Instagram and post their inspirational and supportive messages to the athletes. Each post will appear on the digital fan flame and will be sent to our athletes.
Sony Pictures Networks India sports and distribution business president Rajesh Kaul said, “At Sony Pictures Networks India we have always promoted a multi-sport culture and it doesn’t get bigger than the 18th Asian Games. As our athletes compete across 36 sports and against sportspeople from 45 countries, we will bring fans and viewers the ultimate experience to enjoy the Asian Games. As patriotic fans, it’s our utmost duty to give our unrelenting support to our athletes just as they will give on this stage.”
Bollywood superstars Salman Khan, Varun Dhawan and Asian Games participants from India like Anjum Modgil, Satish Kumar, Rakesh Patra and Dipa Karmakar have joined in appealing to fans to support our athletes in the #KoiKasarNahi campaign. In a series of videos, they urge fans to come together and support the Indian contingent to leave no stone unturned in their quest for glory.
2018 Asian Games will be telecast with Hindi commentary on Sony Ten 3 channels and with English commentary on Sony Ten 2 and Sony ESPN channels from 18 August 2018. In addition to the 300+ hours of live telecast, SPN will also air more than 30 hours of highlights and repeats for viewers to catch up with all the sports action in Jakarta.
Viewers can also see in-depth coverage of the games with a live studio show, both in Hindi and English. It will feature expert panellists like wrestler Jagdish Kaliraman, hockey champions Sandeep Singh, Viren Rasquinha, and Jagbir Singh, tennis players Somdev Devvarman and Gaurav Natekar, badminton player Aparna Popat, and expert columnists Ayaz Memon and Boria Majumdar.
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.
