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Wimbledon 2020 becomes latest sporting event to be cancelled due to Covid-19
MUMBAI: For the first time since World War II (1945), the Wimbledon Championships 2020 has been cancelled by a year amid rising concern of the novel Covid-19 pandemic, confirms All England Club Lawn Tennis Club (AELTC) in its official press statement.
The hundred and thirty-fourth championship was supposed to be played in between 29 June and 11 July 2020 but instead will be staged from 28 June to 11 July 2021. Wimbledon, which is played on a grass court, is one of the four grand slam tournaments along with the Australian Open, the French Open and the US Open.
After an emergency meeting, the Wimbledon organisers said, “It is with great regret that the Main Board of the All England Club (AELTC) and the Committee of Management of The Championships have today decided that The Championships 2020 will be cancelled due to public health concerns linked to the coronavirus epidemic.”
Wimbledon is the latest sporting event that has been postponed to next year. Earlier, other marquee events such as the Tokyo Olympics 2020 and UEFA Euro Cup 2020 have also been scheduled in 2021 due to health concerns amid the outbreak of the novel coronavirus across the globe.
The organisers during the emergency meeting had said that the health and safety of all of those who come together to make Wimbledon happen is a priority as well as its broader responsibility to society’s efforts to tackle this global challenge.
AELTC chairman Ian Hewitt said, “We believe that it is a measure of this global crisis that it is ultimately the right decision to cancel this year’s championships, and instead concentrate on how we can use the breadth of Wimbledon’s resources to help those in our local communities. This is a decision that we have not taken lightly, and we have done so with the highest regard for public health and wellbeing of all those who come together to make Wimbledon happen.”
The organisers also said in their emergency statement that the member of the public who paid for tickets in the Wimbledon Public Ballot for this year’s Championships will have their tickets refunded and will be offered the chance to purchase tickets for the same day and court for the next year. It will be communicating directly with all ticket-holders.
In addition, it has taken account of the impact that this decision will have on those who rely on The Championships. "We are developing plans to support those groups, working in partnership with the LTA and the other leadership bodies in global tennis," reads the press statement.
This is the third time in the history that Wimbledon has been either cancelled or postponed to later date. Earlier, during World War I and World War II the tennis tournaments were called off. In this regard, the ALTEC chairman has said that it has weighed heavily on their minds that the staging of The Championships has only been interrupted previously by World Wars.
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.
