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Zee Sports looking to take NFL to Mumbai, Ludhiana in March
MUMBAI: One of Zee Sports’ biggest properties of the year the National Football League (NFL) which is being organised by the All India Football Federation (AIFF) is looking to spread the reach of the game by having matches in other venues.
Speaking to Indiantelevision.com Zee Sports marketing VP Gaurav Seth says that it is looking to have matches in Mumbai and Ludhiana. “This will happen when the second phase kicks off in March 2006. We also took the decision to reduce the numbers of teams participating from 12 to 10. This was done to have a greater degree of focus in terms of only having the best players.”
However for the first phase there is going to be a reworking of the schedule in Kolkatta. That is because the original venue has another event happening. Seth says that details will be known in a few days time. Also the NFL did not get off to the best of starts.
The opening ceremony was marred by Bengal’s Chief Minister coming in late and supposedly interrupting a performance by pop star Shaan who was peeved. While this and other security hassles that happened are obviously not Zee Sports’ fault Seth says that it is all a learning experience. Seth also says that in addition to the title sponsor of the NFL ONGC the channel is looking to finalise deals with two associate sponsors.
Seth is also confident of viewership and on the ground attendance picking up. When teams play warm up matches it takes a little while for fans to warm up as well. Once they do however the stadiums will be buzzing with activity says Seth.
What will help is the marketing that is being done for the matches. For instance in Mumbai a lot of hoardings have sprung up. Zee Sports took front page ads in The Times Of India. Also there has been a fair bit of coverage by sports journalists on the NFL.
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.
