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Star Sports boosts live fare with UEFA, Tennis Masters
SINGAPORE: With the cricket world cup a thing of the past ESPN Star Sports (ESS) is concentrating on giving fans of European football, tennis, golf a chance to see more events live.
An official release informs that three key properties are on the encrypted Star Sports South East Asia feed. The latest sports properties that Star Sports will air live are the UEFA Champions League which was previously not aired on the channel. Meanwhile the Tennis Masters Series and PGA Golf move from same-day delay telecast to live telecast.
Earlier this year, the network began airing two live UEFA Champions League matches per week. Previous to that, live matches were only on ESPN. Now, two different UEFA matches are telecast live simultaneously on ESPN and STAR Sports, giving football fans that much more to choose from.
The new season of the Tennis Masters Series is now broadcast live on Star Sports. The reason for this move is that there has been a recent surge of interest in the sport in Asia with local players doing well against the best. Korea’s Lee Hyung Taik recently won his first tournament of the year. Thailand’s Paradorn Srichiphan who last year upset Andre Aggasi at Wimbledon is making serious movement on the ATP rankings.
Golf may still be an elitist sport but the PGA tour has a huge audience following in the continent. Last year the PGA Tour Golf on Star Sports was watched by a projected 46.7 million cable viewers in non-metered markets and 13.3 million in the people-meter markets of Singapore, Hong Kong, India and Taiwan. (Source: TAM Media Xpress India, Nielsen Taiwan Telescope, TN Sofres Infosys Singapore and Nielsen Hong Kong Telescope. five-minute reach for India, one-minute reach for all other markets, January-November 2002)
Other sports programmes that viewers already get to watch live on the channel include English Premier League, Spanish Primera Liga, Formula One motor racing, US Open Tennis, Wimbledon, NBA, Rugby World Cup, Tri-Nations Rugby, Six Nations Rugby and Sanzar Home Tests.
The release also states that Star Sports is received in 56 million households across Asia.
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.
