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Sony Six to broadcast Redbull Air Race World Championship
MUMBAI: Sticking to its promise of providing its viewers with a diverse offering of sports; Sony Six, has acquired the broadcasting rights to the Red Bull Air Race World Championship.
Being one of the fastest and most exciting motorsport on the planet, the event will feature on the channel possessing sole television rights across the subcontinent. The acquisition also marks the inaugural broadcast of the series for the first time ever across Indian television screens. As the onset to the sport going live for Indian viewers, the series leads to its maiden visit to Croatia this Sunday 13 April 2014.
Speaking to indiantelevision.com Sony Six business head Prasana Krishnan says: “This is a great opportunity for sports fans to witness something that has never been telecast before on Indian screens. We look at it as an essential addition to our diverse sports offering.”
The fastest and fiercest global motorsport series, Red Bull Air Race utilises the most agile, lightweight racing planes. This one-of-its-kind air sport combines speed, precision and skill, as the competing pilot’s race in high-performance airplanes, between 15 and 25 meters above the ground, navigating a challenging obstacle course of Air Gate pylons at speeds of up to 370kph.
“It’s a great lifestyle product to have on board, and it serves the aspirational quotient in sports enthusiast. Everyone likes fast sports like a Moto GP and a Formula One, we are targeting those individuals with this event,” adds Krishnan.
The World Championship features 12 pilots from across the globe. The reigning champion from the last world championship Paul Bonhomme of the United Kingdom is also in the mix and will be looking to defend his title.
An exciting feature of the 2014 Red Bull Air Race World Championship is the debut of the Challenger Cup that will give a new generation of talented pilots from around the world a chance to experience the thrills of the sport.
The Roving race is set to be an electrifying follow-up to the season opener in Abu Dhabi and ardent followers of the Red Bull Air Race will be able to catch the action unfold exclusively on Six at 07:30 pm on 13 April.
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.
