Legendary Sachin Tendulkar has bagged Laureus Sporting Moment Award for the celebration moment when his teammates lifted him on the shoulders after India’s 2011 World Cup triumph. Under the category of the best moment in the last 20 years, the legendary batsman got the most number of votes and was announced as a winner on Monday.
No Indian can forget the much-awaited moment when India lifted the coveted trophy of the World Cup after 28 years. As soon as Dhoni hit a six facing Sri Lanka’s Nuwan Kulasekara, the elated cricketers soon ran onto the ground–to celebrate their historic milestone.
Soon after the trophy was handed over to skipper MS Dhoni, players lifted Sachin Tendulkar on their shoulders and that moment touched the heart of millions.
Former Australia skipper Steve Waugh handed the trophy to Tendulkar after tennis legend Boris Becker announced the winner at the 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,” Sachin 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,” he added.
He was asked by Becker to express the emotions he felt after lifting the 2011 World Cup title, the master blaster got emotional during his speech and said:
“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.
Here is a clip of Sachin Tendulkar while delivering a powerful speech after winning the prestigious Laureus Sporting Moment Award:
"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