Berlin: The World Cup winning Indian cricket team lifting Sachin Tendulkar on their shoulders in 2011 was voted the Laureus best sporting moment in the last 20 years.
Referring to the moment, Laureaus tweeted: “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.”
Thanks to the backing of Indian cricket fans, Tendulkar got the maximum number of votes to emerge the winner on Monday.
Former Australian cricket captain Steve Waugh handed the trophy to Tendulkar after tennis legend Bros Becker announced the winner at a glittering ceremony.
“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,” Tendulkar 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 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.
“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,” the46-year-old former cricketer said,
“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.
Tendulkar, the highest run-scorer in the cricket world, said holding the Laureus trophy has also given him great honour.
