Dubai: Indian cricketer Yuvraj Singh, ignored for the ongoing Twenty-20 series against Australia, added another feather in his cap on Wednesday when he was announced as the newest member of the Laureus family at an event in Mumbai.
“It’s an honour for me to join the Laureus family here in India and to find out first-hand the great work being done to help young people overcome challenges in their lives. I’m a firm believer in the power of sport and its incredible ability to change lives; it changed mine and I’m looking forward to helping Laureus in their goal to improve many more in the future,” said Yuvraj, a two-time World Cup winner for India.
Yuvraj becomes Laureus’ first Indian ambassador and joins a host of cricketing legends in the Laureus family, including Indian Academy members Sachin Tendulkar, Rahul Dravid and Kapil Dev.
An exponent of the limited overs variety of the game, Yuvi’s most memorable performances have come while helping his country win two World Cups, the 2007 World Twenty20 and 2011 World Cup, emerging as the Man of The Tournament in the second one. In a match against England at the 2007 World Twenty20, Yuvraj famously hit six sixes in one over — an accomplishment achieved only three times previously in any form of senior cricket, and never in an international match between two Test teams.
Yuvraj has also overcome adversity off the field of play. In 2011, he was faced with his greatest ever challenge when he was diagnosed with a cancerous tumour in his left lung. After undergoing chemotherapy treatment for his illness, Yuvraj made his international comeback in a Twenty20 match in September 2012 against New Zealand.
Welcoming him, Rahul Dravid said in a statement: “I’m delighted to welcome Yuvraj to the team. Knowing him as both a cricketer and person, I understand how passionately he believes in the power of sport and how determined he is to give back to those in need. I’m looking forward to working with Yuvraj once again, this time using sport to help young people overcome violence, discrimination and disadvantage.”
