News Headline
Udit Sharma gets back to sports at JioStar
MUMBAI: He left Hotstar as head of ad sales in June 2022 after working there for more than five years. Udit Sharma then joined Sharechat as chief revenue officer for less than two years, and One Impression as chief business officer for around a year.
Now the hardcore sales professional is back with his old colleagues at JioStar as executive vice-president, business head – for premium sports and agency relationships. Announcing his joining the firm on linkedin, Udit said: “’India should not and will not be a one-sports country’ – With this conviction, I am super excited to be joining Ishan Chatterjee, Kiran Mani and Sanjog Gupta to lead with the premium sports business at Jiostar.”
The Singapore (Masters in Engineering in microelectronics from Nanyang Technological University)-educated Udit, completed his MBA from Tuck School of Business at Dartmouth in 2010. After his bachelors in engineering, he was placed at ST Microelectronics as an IC design engineer where he worked for four years and even completed his master’s degree. He was then hired by Samsung Electronics as a global strategist in the chairman’s office in Seoul before being promoted to business development manager -Samsung Pay in 2013.
Returning to India (Gurugram), he had a short stint with Zomato as vice-president global business head -cashless, after which he joined Freecharge where stayed for a year and quit as assistant vice-president – head category management & business development to join Hotstar.
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.
