News Headline
Tennis Masters Series and Cup to be sold as one TV package
MUMBAI: Tennis Properties Limited (TPL) – the commercial arm of the Tennis Masters Series tournaments and the Tennis Masters Cup – has announced an extension of its broadcast rights pooling agreement with the nine Masters Series tournaments and the Tennis Masters Cup.
In India the tournamants air on ESPN Star Sports.
The three-year agreement will see TPL continue to act as the host broadcaster at each event from 2005 to 2007. Under the agreement, the nine-tournament series will be renamed as the ATP Masters Series, while the Tennis Masters Cup – jointly owned by the ITF, Grand Slams and ATP – will keep its current name. As a result of this agreement, the ATP Masters Series and the Tennis Masters Cup will be sold to television broadcasters around the world as a single series-wide package.
TPL MD Mark Webster was quoted in an official release saying, “The value of the ATP Masters Series and Tennis Masters Cup as a broadcast product is driven by our ability to offer broadcasters a complete package of rights, production and transmission. It is a formula that has worked successfully since we took over the rights from ISL in 2001 and we are looking forward to building on that success in the next three years.”
The release adds that the Tennis Masters Cup has also successfully concluded negotiations with Lacoste to extend its partnership with the clothing company through to 2006. The company confirmed its commitment as the Official Clothing Sponsor of the Tennis Masters Cup for a three-year term.
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.
