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‘Super Selector’ sets world record as 100,000 sign on
ESPN Star Sports Super Selector, the interactive game show launched on September 21, has set a world record for the number of entries received for any similar on-line game, available data indicates. The total number of teams registered on-line by the cricket fans in just nine days for the October game are over 100,000.
With this, Super Selector has also set the ‘World Record’ for the fastest “sign-up” rate for any similar on-line game in the world, a company release says. Overall 102,467 cricket fans registered their teams on-line with maximum entries across India coming from west India (31,147) followed by south India (29,680), north India (20,125), and central India (4,117). It has also received 7,121 international entries. The total page views for the Super Selector page on the website www.espnstar.com total 1.44 million!
Manu Sawhney, managing director of ESPN Software India Ltd. said: “We are overwhelmed by the phenomenal consumer response to the ESPN STAR Sports Super Selector. We always believed that Super Selector was a winning concept. The India cricket season begins on October 5 with the India tour of South Africa, and we only expect the participation number to grow exponentially.”
“By setting a world record in just nine days of registration, it proves beyond doubt that Super Selector is the perfect platform for millions of cricket fans to extend their involvement and enhance the enjoyment of the game much beyond the live coverage of international cricket,” he said.
Super Selector is sponsored by Peter England, Suzuki Fiero and Kingfisher.
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.
