News Headline
Sony Pix & ESPN to telecast Global Powerboat Racing live from 3-5 March
MUMBAI: Nexa P1 Powerboat, Indian Grand Prix of the Seas, will be telecast live globally and promises to deliver the most comprehensive coverage in the history of powerboating. Seeding a global sport from India, the Nexa P1 Powerboat, Indian Grand Prix of the Seas, will set a global benchmark for the telecast of the sport and the entertainment around it.
Procam International is creating history of sorts by launching the global powerboat racing series in Mumbai from 3-5 March and Nexa is title sponsor for inaugural Grand Prix of the Seas series.
Nexa P1 Powerboat, India Grand Prix of the Seas, is the first of the UIM recognized Grand Prix of the Seas. The 5-tier hierarchal structure will consist of a World Cup at the apex (to be held biennially starting in 2020) the Grand Prix of the Seas series, which will define a World Champion, inter-continental series, national series and regional series in orders of level of competition.
The telecast repertoire includes nine hours of live programming on Sony ESPN and Sony Pix over the race weekend, content that will be produced by Initium Productions and Emmy Award recognized British director, Westbury Gillet. The production will also be the result of synergies between global, hi-tech crew and equipment flown in from 3 continents. Another global first for the sport is the introduction of the ‘second screen’, a gamified graphics interface to be followed live on an internet-connected device for real-time access to gamified positions, telemetric race data & analytics in addition to the television broadcast.
Torchbearers of the distance running revolution in the country, anchored by the Mumbai marathon, the sixth largest distance running event race globally, Procam International is now extending their dominion from land to the maritime world by launching the Nexa P1 Powerboat, Indian Grand Prix of the Seas. With the hum and throttle of engines along the shorelines of Mumbai’s natural amphitheater – Marine Drive – through the weekend of 3rd March 2017, this new sporting paradigm will redefine India’s maritime landscape and spearhead a powerful movement for marine sustainability.
The Nexa P1 Powerboat, Indian Grand Prix of the Seas, which will be conducted on the first-ever course on water, comparable to a race track, challenges status quo and combines the best in innovative technology and bespoke maritime strategy.
The Grand Prix of the Seas is the brainchild of P1 Global, the world’s leading maritime motor sports brand in partnership with Procam International and the coming together of Indian and global institutions, partners, federations, governments, agencies and sponsors, reinforced by the endorsement of the Union Internationale Motonautique (UIM), the global governing federation to create a truly unique experience that will infuse within the ecosystem a joy of water.
The Government of Maharashtra, the Mumbai Port Trust, and the Indian Navy, the fifth-largest navy in the world supports this initiative. The event is being conducted under the auspices of the Maharashtra Tourism and Development Corporation (MTDC) and implemented under the aegis of the Yachting Association of India (YAI), while being sanctioned by the Union Internationale Motonautique (UIM). The Government of India and the Ministry of Sports & Youth Affairs have also extended their full support..
Procam International MD Anil Singh said, “Procam created a national movement in running, and now we are aiming to create a global movement on water. With the Nexa P1 Powerboat, Indian Grand Prix of the Seas, sports fans will experience the joy of watching the fastest men and women on sea competing on the world’s first-ever course on water..”
UIM Off-Shore Commission president Jean Marie Van Lancker said, “The global spotlight will be on Mumbai as it makes history by launching the debut race of the world championship series. The sheer enormity of this race and its many firsts will make it a worldwide phenomenon and re-define the parameters of powerboat racing.The UIM extends its full support to Procam International and all its partners to make this edition a resounding success.”
Global Partners to the event, P1 Global chairman, Asif Rangoonwala said, “ Powerboat P1 in partnership with Procam International are delighted to announce the launch of the Nexa P1 Powerboat, Indian Grand Prix of the Seas. This debut race is the culmination of six years of dedicated work in developing a new series that delivers a clear and logical structure, which celebrates the best powerboat racers in the world and redefines sport in the maritime ecosystem. Having reached the launch stage, it was vitally important to secure a race venue befitting the scale of this achievement and we believe that Mumbai, a world-class city in so many ways, is the ideal base for the start of this new journey. I have always marveled at the splendour of Marine Drive and am glad that this natural amphitheater will be brought to life with our P1 powerboats racing centre-stage for millions of fans of this sport.”
The race weekend for the Indian Grand Prix of the Seas will have seven teams competing, with every team comprising of two P1 Panther powerboats, each manned by a pilot and navigator competing in identical boats along a 5.2 km defined race track, the first ever on water. The podium teams will be decided by the combined best times of both boats based on the skills of the team’s pilots and navigators post two races on March 4, Saturday, and one Grand Final on Sunday, March 5th. With the best pilots and navigators from the world participating in this event, the race weekend will also be witness to the first-ever sport in India that has male and female as equal participants, with skill and strategy deciding the winner.
A 28-foot powerboat powered by a 250 HP engine, reaches a maximum speed of 120 km/hr on water, an equivalent of 240 km/hr on land. With a low centre of gravity providing greater stability and improved handling, the P1 Panther is also designed to race in just 6 feet of water resulting in a fan-friendly, close-to-shore racing experience.
The P1 Panther has been specially designed to make this a truly green racing event. With low emissions, it is unbeatable on clean and quiet performance and has been given the Clean Air Excellence Award by the EPA. The boat has been certified under EU standards and has a 3-STAR CARB rating which means 65% fewer emissions than 1-STAR engines. It emits less noise and no smoke, uses less fuel and requires no oil changes thanks to the advanced fuel and oil injection system
An event of this magnitude is not possible without the unstinted support from its partners and sponsors who have extended their faith in the sport. Partners include the Maruti Suzuki’ new premium sales channel, NEXA, as the Title Sponsor. Maruti Suzuki executive director marketing & sales R S Kalsi said, “At Nexa, we are committed to offer hospitality that pampers and technology that’s innovative for our consumers. NEXA is at the forefront of bringing innovation & delivering outstanding experiences which are new and exciting, just like P1 Powerboat Racing which builds experiences based on high adrenaline action and superior technology”.
Other partners include: Trident Hotel as Hospitality Partner that offers panoramic views of Marine Drive & the Queen’s Necklace; India’s largest English daily, The Times of India as Print Partner; Radio Mirchi as Radio Partner; The world’s largest container shipping company, Maersk, as Shipping Partner; The Patient and Family Centric, Sir H N Reliance Foundation Hospital, as Medical Partner; Nautica, the water inspired global lifestyle brand, as Style Partner; Mahindra Marine as Boat Building Partner; Sony ESPN as the Broadcast Partner.
The Joy Of Water Foundation (which is being set up in India) is set-up with the aim of safeguarding and restoring the marine and coastal environment by raising awareness through education and effective partnerships with a mission to deliver inspiring programs that engage understanding of the value of marine life together with increased personal responsibility, particularly amongst young people.
The high-octane action on water will be complemented by a Race Village from March 3-5, at the Wilson Gymkhana Grounds on Marine Drive. The Race Village, a BCCL initiative, promises an exciting experience, complete with games, celebrity events and elite hospitality. The weekend will also be interspersed with various exhilarating attractions, including a Naval display and performances by Zapata & Jet Ski World Champions.
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.
