…and the Laureus Award goes to Sachin Tendulkar

Legendary cricketer Sachin Tendulkar was awarded the prestigious Laureus Award, considered the Sports Oscar and the highest honour in the world of sports. Sachin has been selected for the award through voting on the best sporting moment in the last 20 years.  The voters selected the moment showing Sachin being lifted on the shoulders of his teammates after the Mahendra Singh Dhoni-led Indian team’s World Cup triumph at Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai in 2011.

Sachin emerged the winner in the voting after gaining the maximum number of votes with the strong support of the Indian cricket fans, in whose hearts the historic moment was firmly etched.

Former Australian skipper Steve Waugh handed the trophy to Sachin Tendulkar after tennis legend Boris Becker announced the winner at a glittering ceremony in Berlin on Monday.

“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,” Sachin said after receiving the trophy.

“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.” Becker then asked him to share the emotions he felt at that time.

“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 said.

“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 46-year-old batting icon, the highest run-getter in the cricket world, said holding the Laureus trophy.