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Ten Sports bags Gold Coast 2018 Commonwealth Games rights
MUMBAI: After bagging the rights for the recently concluded Glasgow 2014 Commonwealth Games, Ten Sports has done it again. The Games, which takes place once in four years, will be held in Gold Coast Australia in 2018 and Ten Sports has moved quickly to secure the Indian sub-continent broadcast rights. The games will take place from 4 to 15 April 2018.
Ten Sports CEO Rajesh Sethi commented on the acquisition, “After the enormous success of Glasgow 2014, we are very happy to extend our partnership with the Commonwealth Games Federation for the 21st edition of the Commonwealth Games. The ever increasing Indian participation and success at these Games is very encouraging and we at Ten Sports will continue delivering the best of action from the 17 sporting disciplines in the coming years.”
Ten Sports is the first private broadcaster in the Indian subcontinent to give multi-channel coverage of the games along with in depth studio analysis and build up shows to educate audiences about the different sporting disciplines and medal prospects.
Announcing the agreement, the Commonwealth Games Federation CEO Michael Hooper said, “The arrangement we have reached with Ten Sports to become another of our broadcast partners for 2018, coming as it does on the heels of the Commonwealth Games Federation’s deal announced earlier this week with Australia’s Seven Network, is testament to how popular the Commonwealth Games brand has become across the world”
Ten Sports has acquired free-to-air and pay TV subscription television rights, plus those for new media (incorporating Internet and mobile) and radio for the 2018 Commonwealth Games across a wide-ranging territory that includes India, Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Bhutan, the Maldives, Nepal, Pakistan and Sri Lanka.
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.
