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Star India targets Rs 100 crore revenue from Asia Cup
MUMBAI: Star India is believed to be in line to raise Rs 100 crore from the upcoming Asia Cup cricket tournament which is to be held from 25 February to 8 March 2014 in Bangladesh. The Asia Cup features the national teams of cricket crazy India, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh and Afghanistan which will be vying to lift the trophy.
The on-ground action is to be telecast on its Star Sports channels and is believed to be attracting 10 second air time rates between Rs 1.80 lakh to Rs 2.50 lakh from advertisers.
Star India sports business head Nitin Kukreja told agencies that 90 per cent of the channels air time inventory has been sold off. This apart, mainline brands such as Nokia India, Idea Cellular and United Spirits have come on as presenting sponsors. Other brands which have signed up with Star Sports as associate sponsors include Tata Motors, Birla Sunlife Insurance and Perfetti India.
Star India which has both the on-air and on-ground selling rights had in early February announced that it had roped in Arise India as the ground title sponsor while Cycle Pure Agarbathies, Daikin, Savsol Lubricants and Peps Mattress had also hopped on board as ground sponsors.
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.
