News Headline
South United Football Club Marks AFC Women’s Football Day with a spectacular celebration
Mumbai: South United Football Club (SUFC), which competes in the highest league in the state of Karnataka and recently launched as many as three training centres in Pune, celebrated the AFC Women’s Football Day at the Ganga Legends Sports Complex in Bavdhan here with great enthusiasm on 2 March 2024. The occasion was observed with a sense of fostering community spirit and a strong focus on women in football. Preeti Maske, renowned Ultra Cyclist and holder of five Guinness World Records was the chief guest at the event and addressed the excited crowd who were present.
The chief guest, Preeti Maske, said, “It is a great initiative by South United Football Club to celebrate this occasion and promote fitness and sports among women. It was good to see so many young girls participating in all the activities conducted here with their parents. I urge more parents to push their children to take up sports, and clubs like South United are a perfect place for them to start.”
The event, hosted at the Club’s state-of-the-art training facility in Bavdhan, received overwhelming participation and welcomed talented girls of the SUFC Academy, their families, as well as relatives of the SUFC Academy players. Ganga Legends Society members and Mai Bal Bhavan (NGO for the Visually Impaired) also joined in the celebrations to promote health and wellness among women.
“We are thrilled to have played a part in celebrating AFC Women’s Football Day, showcasing the immense talent and passion that exists within our community”, said South United Football Club CMO & COO Prerana Dhawan. “As an organisation deeply committed to promoting gender equality and social inclusion, South United Football Club remains dedicated to creating opportunities for women to excel in football and beyond. Through initiatives like AFC Women’s Football Day, the Club hopes to inspire the next generation of female athletes and foster a more inclusive and equitable sporting landscape.”, she added.
Highlighting the day’s excitement were eight engaging and fun events, meticulously planned by SUFC coaches that brought together girls and women in spirited competition, competing with and against each other.
This celebration stands as a testament to SUFC’s commitment to nurturing talent, encouraging inclusivity, promoting women’s football, and creating a vibrant community through the beautiful game.
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.
