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Ten Sports bags telecast rights to Sunfeast Open 2005
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BANGALORE: Sunfeast Open 2005, the international women’s tennis tournament to be held in Kolkata from 19 September to 25 September, will air live on Ten Sports. The event is jointly managed by ITC Foods and Mahesh Bhupati-headed sports marketing firm Globosport. |
 Sunfeast Open 2005 is expected to attract the best of tennis talent from across the globe. Some of the top players under the 100 WTA (Women Tennis Association) rankings, including Sania Mirza, will be seen in action in the tourney.
“We are shooting promotional clips with Mahesh and Sania. The promos will soon hit the tube. We plan to position this event as a package of three events”, offered Ten Sports V-P programming Peter Hutton while speaking to Indiantelevision.com.  |
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According to Naware, ITC Foods will be footing the bill for the event which is estimated to be around Rs 30 million to Rs 40 million, which will include the prize money of US$170,000. “The illustrative insignia captures the essence of the brand Sunfeast – energetic, cheerful and spirited against the historic landmark of Kolkata City – “Howrah Bridge”, which forms the backdrop of the design. The O in “Open”, depicted with a tennis ball reiterates the competitive nature of the game. The amalgamation of these elements, captured by the color red reflects the passion and celebratory nature of the event,” an official release describes the tournament logo, which was unveiled by Bhupati in Bangalore last night. |
“We intend to promote the event along with Ten Sports with the help of ground and above the ground events, contests so that sports lovers could get a chance to participate in the main even by winning contests. We may start with local tennis clubs where selected promising players could get a chance to interact with world class players, global stars, have the lime light and maybe make it big in the game. The Sunfeast Open comes close to the heels of some stupendous performances in the world arena by Indian women tennis players”, said ITC Foods divisional chief executive Ravi Naware.
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.
