Sachin Tendulkar wins Laureus best sporting moment honour
Remember when India won the 2011 World Cup and batting great Sachin Tendulkar was carried on the shoulders of his teammates around the Wankhede Stadium? That moment of the lap of honour was on Monday (February 16) voted as the Laureus best sporting moment in the last 20 years.
Remember when India won the 2011 World Cup and batting great Sachin Tendulkar was carried on the shoulders of his teammates around the Wankhede Stadium? That moment of the lap of honour was on Monday (February 16) voted as the Laureus best sporting moment in the last 20 years.
With the backing of Indian cricket fans, Tendulkar got the maximum number of votes to emerge winner on Monday (February 16).
Tendulkar, competing in his sixth and last World Cup, finally realised his long-cherished dream when skipper Mahendra Singh Dhoni smacked Sri Lankan pacer Nuwan Kulasekara out of the park for a winning six.
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The charged-up Indian cricketers rushed to the ground in Mumbai and soon they lifted Tendulkar on their shoulders and made a lap of honour, a moment etched in the minds of the fans.
Former Australian skipper Steve Waugh handed the trophy to Tendulkar after tennis legend Bros Becker announced the winner at a glittering ceremony.
? Sound on ?
A powerful, strong and moving tribute to a room full of sporting legends from @sachin_rt in honour of Nelson Mandela and the incredible power of sport to unite and inspire ?#Laureus20 #SportUnitesUs pic.twitter.com/0z3mNatUFh
— Laureus (@LaureusSport) February 17, 2020
“It’s incredible. The feeling of winning the world cup was beyond what words can express. How many times you get an event happening where there are no mixed opinions. Very rarely the entire country celebrates. And this is a reminder of how powerful a sport is and what magic it does to our lives. Even now when I watch that it has stayed with me,” Tendulkar said after receiving the trophy.
Becker then asked Tendulkar to share the emotions he felt at that time and the Indian legend put in perspective how important it was for him to hold that trophy.
"This is a reminder of how powerful sport is and what magic it does to all of our lives."
A God for a nation. An inspiration worldwide.
And an incredible speech from the Laureus Sporting Moment 2000 – 2020 winner, the great @sachin_rt ??#Laureus20 #SportUnitesUs pic.twitter.com/dLrLA1GYQS
— Laureus (@LaureusSport) February 17, 2020
“My journey started in 1983 when I was 10 years old. India had won the World Cup. I did not understand the significance and just because everybody was celebrating, I also joined the party. But somewhere I knew something special has happened to the country and I wanted to experience it one day and that’s how my journey began. It was the proudest moment of my life, holding that trophy which I chased for 22 years but I never lost hope. I was merely lifting that trophy on behalf of my countrymen,” he added.
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The 46-year-old Tendulkar, the highest run-getter in the cricket world, said holding the Laureus trophy has also given him great honour.
He also shared the impact the revolutionary South African leader Nelson Mandela had on him. Tendulkar met him when he was just 19 years old.
? @sachin_rt ??
Carried on the Shoulders of a Nation, the Little Master led India to their first World Cup since 1983 in 2011, at his sixth and final attempt ?
As voted for by you, he is the ultimate Laureus Sporting Moment 2000 – 2020 ?#Laureus20 #SportUnitesUs pic.twitter.com/zFZpM8qD3j
— Laureus (@LaureusSport) February 17, 2020
“His hardship did not affect his leadership. Out of many messages he left, the most important I felt was that sport has got the power to unite everyone. Today sitting in this room with so many athletes, some of them did not have everything but they made the best of everything they had. I thank them for inspiring youngsters to pick a sport of their choice and chase their dreams. This trophy belongs to all of us, it’s not just about me,” the batting legend said.
India skipper Virat Kohli, who was part of the 2011 World cup winning team, also congratulated Tendulkar.
“Congratulations Sachin paaji on being honoured with the prestigious Laureus Sporting Moment Award. A great achievement and a proud moment for our nation. @BCCI @sachin_rt,” Kohli wrote on his twitter handle.
Congratulations Sachin paaji on being honoured with the prestigious Laureus Sporting Moment Award. A great achievement and a proud moment for our nation. ?? @BCCI @sachin_rt https://t.co/cWOfAuBB6i
— Virat Kohli (@imVkohli) February 18, 2020
(With inputs from agencies)
