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World Tennis League lands in India with global broadcast push
BENGALURU: The World Tennis League is making a loud India entry. The team-based tournament, presented by Iconik Sports & Events and powered by SpiceJet, will be broadcast across India and more than 100 countries, marking its first edition on Indian soil with a global television and digital rollout.
The league’s India debut, scheduled from December 17–20 at Bengaluru’s S M Krishna Tennis Stadium, will be aired live on Sony Sports Network, with FanCode streaming the action digitally for Indian audiences across mobile, web and connected devices.
Internationally, the tournament will reach viewers across the Americas, Europe, Asia, the Indian subcontinent, MENA, Sub-Saharan Africa and Russia through broadcasters including Tennis Channel, Canal+, SuperTennis Italy, StarTimes, OnTime Sports, Bolshe and Styx Sports, among others.
The Bengaluru leg features four teams—Game Changers Falcons, VB Realty Hawks, Aussie Mavericks Kites and AOS Eagles—and promises four days of fast-paced tennis. Global stars such as Daniil Medvedev, Nick Kyrgios, Gael Monfils, Denis Shapovalov and Elina Svitolina will take the court alongside leading Indian players including Rohan Bopanna, Sumit Nagal, Yuki Bhambri and Sahaja Yamalapalli.
Co-founder of the World Tennis League, Hemali Sharma, said the broadcast tie-ups would significantly expand the league’s global footprint, tapping into India’s growing appetite for top-tier tennis. Co-founder of FanCode, Prasana Krishnan, said the format and star power made the league an ideal gateway for both seasoned fans and new audiences.
With Bengaluru set to host some of the biggest names in the sport, the World Tennis League is positioning its India debut as a spectacle built for screens as much as the stands. From December 17, tennis goes prime time—and global.
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.
