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.”