News Headline
Worldspace associates with BBC & TWI for Soccer World Cup programming
MUMBAI: Worldspace Satellite Radio has announced that subscribers in India can get the inside track on the world’s most popular sporting event as its channel Play! kicks off its coverage of the FIFA World Cup 2006.
Play! is partnering with BBC and Trans World International to bring subscribers an exclusive mix of programming that captures the action, news, views and profiles from the World Cup.
India’s top footballer, Baichung Bhutia, joins the Worldspace team as they decode the strategies, talk you through the day’s highlights from Germany, and rope you into the game with exciting contests and interactive programming initiatives, states an official release. Star profiles, background trivia on the stadiums, coaches and teams, daily previews, comments from fans, and expert analysis will be part of the programme offering.
Playtime, the morning programming session on Play!, will air an hour and a half of football programming, sharing the previous day’s results, commentary bytes and vox-pops from fans in Germany as well as listeners from around the world. Playtime will also host a special call-in segment with Bhutia between 11:30 am and noon every Monday, Wednesday and Saturday during the World Cup, where subscribers will get to discuss the previous day’s goals, blunders and strategies, the release adds.
Playground, the afternoon session, kicks off at noon with daily TWI updates and a weekly chat with Bhutia every Friday afternoon. Matthew Kenyon, Worldspace’s lead reporter at the FIFA World Cup, reports live from Germany, wrapping up the show with his predictions for the day’s games.
Play! Quiz takes on a World Cup theme the entire month. Subscribers get a chance to win exclusive merchandise by answering football trivia on players, teams, coaches, venues and more.
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.
