Sachin Tendulkar wins Best Laureus sporting moment

Sachin
Tendulkar being lifted on the shoulders of his teammates after their World Cup
triumph at home in 2011 was voted 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.

Tendulkar,
competing in his sixth and last World Cup, finally realised his long-term dream
when skipper Mahendra Singh Dhoni smacked Sri Lankan pacer Nuwan Kulasekara out
of the park for a winning six.

The
charged-up Indian cricketers rushed to the ground 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.

“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.

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. He met him when he was just 19 years old.

“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.”