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Sony Pictures Networks India acquires media rights in the Indian-subcontinent for World Wrestling Championship 2019
Sony Pictures Networks India Private Limited (SPN) has acquired media rights comprising of exclusive television broadcast rights and non-exclusive digital transmission rights for the World Wrestling Championship 2019, to be held from September 14 to 22, 2019 in Nur-Sultan, Kazakhstan. The agreement with Sporty Solutionz, UWW’s Media Rights exclusive partners for the territory, covers television and digital rights in the Indian sub-continent.
Organized by the United World Wrestling, the 2019 World Championships will be the first qualification event in select categories for the Olympic Games Tokyo 2020. The preliminary rounds will be livestreamed only on SonyLIV. The semi-finals and finals across all the three events – Men’s Freestyle, Greco Roman and Women’s Wrestling – and weight-categories will be telecast daily on SONY TEN 3 SD & HD and SONY ESPN SD & HD channels as well as live streamed on SonyLIV starting from September 14, 2019, until September 22, 2019. All the matches will be aired live in India between 4:00 PM and 8:00 PM IST allowing audiences to watch this prestigious tournament at prime time.
The UWW World Championships are the amateur wrestling world championships organized by the United World Wrestling. The event features competitions in Men’s Freestyle, Men’s Greco-Roman and Women’s Freestyle tournaments across different weight categories. From India, top wrestlers like Bajrang Punia, Sakshi Malik, Sushil Kumar, Vinesh Phogat and many more will aim to rise to the occasion.
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.
