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World Tennis League Season 3 action on Sony Sports from 19 December
MUMBAI: Four days of fast-paced tennis starting today, 19 December, with some of the leading players globally battling it out in the World Tennis League (WTL) Season 3 for the title of champion team. That’s what tennis lovers are going to be glued to on the Sony Sports Network (SSN) till 22 December.
SSN has acquired the exclusive television and digital rights for the tournament for India, Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Bhutan, Nepal, Maldives, Pakistan and Sri Lanka. The year-end treat has Sania Mirza and Rob Koeing serving as commentators.
The WTL is a one of its kind mixed gender leagues which is being held at the Etihad Arena, Yas Island, in Abu Dhabi with thrilling match ups between four teams namely Eagles, Falcons, Hawks and Kites.
What makes the tournament even more interesting is the presence of the players like Stefanos Tsitsipas, Andrey Rublev, Casper Ruud, Daniil Medvedev, Nick Kyrgios, Taylor Fritz, Hubert Hurkacz and Sumit Nagal from India in the Men’s. On the other hand, the women stars participating include the likes of Iga Swiatek, Barbora Krej?íková, Paula Badosa, Elena Rybakina, Aryna Sabalenka, Caroline Garcia, Jasmine Paolini, and Mirra Andreeva.
During the tournament, the teams will play each other in a round-robin format. Each tie will consist of four sets: one men’s singles match, one women’s singles match, and two doubles sets, which may include men’s doubles, women’s doubles, or mixed doubles, as determined by the team that wins the coin toss.
Following the round-robin phase, the top two teams will face off in the final on 22 December 2024.
The squads are as follows:
Eagles – Iga Swiatek, Barbora Krej?íková, Hubert Hurkacz, Casper Ruud
Hawks – Aryna Sabalenka, Mirra Andreeva, Taylor Fritz, Sumit Nagal
Falcons – Elena Rybakina, Caroline Garcia, Daniil Medvedev, Andrey Rublev
Kites – Jasmine Paolini, Paula Badosa, Stefanos Tsitsipas, Nick Kyrgios
The WTL can be watched live on Sony Sports Ten 1 SD & HD channels & on Sony LIV
Live performances by ageing evergreen Canadian rockstar Bryan Adams and Anastacia (19 December) and by Akon (21 December) are other standouts for the WTL What was not clear at the time of writing was whether the performances were going to be aired. So if you are a fan of any of these and the top tennis ranked players, head out and book your flight tickets as well as tickets for the arena.
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.
