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Ten Sports to broadcast DFB Cup in India
Mumbai: The German football association, Deutscher Fussball-Bund (DFB) and Ten Sports Network, have agreed to a media rights agreement for the DFB Cup. From the 2014-15 and 2017-18 season, the German knock-out competition will be broadcasted across Ten Sports Network. Infront Sports & Media, the exclusive international media rights advisor to the DFB, has helped facilitate the long-term contract.
Ten Sports has acquired the exclusive media rights for live and delayed coverage with a commitment of 11 key matches per season and a potential 19. Territories included in the contract, cover the Indian sub-continent including Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Bhutan, Maldives, Nepal, India, Pakistan and Sri Lanka. Its programming also features other international football properties like the UEFA Champions League.
Ten Sports CEO Rajesh Sethi said, “Ten Sports is proud to re affirm its commitment to DFB and Infront by renewing rights for the DFB Cup for a further four years which will see matches live on Ten Action, Ten Sports & Ten HD and also available for live streaming on tensports.com. As incumbent rights holders for the UEFA Champions League & Europa League and the DFB Cup, we have seen incredible performances by German Clubs on the field as well as their financial stability off it. DFB Cup forms a key part of our premium football bouquet which also includes the UEFA Champions League & Europa League, Copa Del Rey, Capital One Cup, French League among other properties and we are delighted to extend our rights partnership.”
The DFB Cup is an annual German knockout football cup competition run by the Deutscher Fussball -Bund. 64 teams participate in the competition, including all top clubs from the Bundesliga. The most successful team in this competition has been Bayern Munich who have won the DFB Cup for a total of 16 times. This year’s final will see the top two clubs in Germany fight it out on 17 May, as current holders Bayern Munich will face their biggest domestic rivals Borussia Dortmund.
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.
