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Zee Sports to showcase Fed Cup action in September
MUMBAI: Zee Sports will air the semi finals of the women team tennis event Fed Cup live from 15 to 16 September 2006.
In the first semi final, Spain will take on Italy. In the second semi final, Belgium will clash with USA for top honours.
In the first semi final, Spain will take on Italy. This is the fourth contest between the two nations, with the countries tied with two wins each. The last time they met was at the round robin stage of the World Group in 2000 where Spain defeated Italy 3-0, and subsequently went on to reach the final.
The line up of the Spanish team includes Anabel Medina Garrigues,Virginia Ruano Pascual, Lourdes Dominguez-Lino, Maria Sanchez Lorenzo with Miguel Margets as captain. The Italian team will be led by Corrado Barazzutti. Other players of the team are Francesca Schiavone, Flavia Pennetta, Mara Santangelo and Romina Oprandi.
In the second semi final, Belgium will clash with the US. This is the fourth meeting between the two nations. America enjoys a 4-0 lead. The last time they met was in the 2005 opening round in Delray Beach, Florida, where USA easily overcame an injury-hit Belgium 5-0.
The line up for Belgium includes Kim Clijsters, Leslie Butkiewicz, Kirsten Flipkens and Caroline Maes. America’s team will consist of Jill Craybas, Jamea Jackson, Vania King and Mashona Washington.
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.
