NEW DELHI: As Yuvraj Singh prepares to start his second innings in international cricket after his successful battle with cancer, Sachin Tendulkar says the “champion” has set a great example for not just fellow sportspersons but all those suffering from the disease.
“He’s undergone those tough treatments and those tough sessions and he’s back in the Indian cricket team. So he’s set a great example not only for the sportsman to follow but for a common man suffering from cancer. I think he’s set a great example,” Tendulkar said.
Calling him a champion, Tendulkar remembered Yuraj’s heroics in the 2011 World Cup.
“To me he’s a champion — once a champion will always be a champion. I was really happy that he got the Man of the Series, Man of the tournament in the World Cup and then yes, he had health problems”, Tendulkar said.
“And then again, as I said he’s a champion and he proved it and he’s addressed those issues with the help of the doctors and every possible thing which a cancer patient should do he’s done,” he said.
The veteran batsman was impressed with the India colts’ triumph in the Under-19 World Cup recently, and picked captain Unmukt Chand for special praise.
“Yeah, I mean to be honest, I haven’t seen much of him (Unmukt). But whatever I have seen I’ve really liked. I got to spend some time with the U-19 team before they left for the World Cup. It was a fantastic experience to share my thoughts with the team and also to watch them play fabulous cricket.
“They really played well. They played well as a team. In fact, when the Hyderabad Test was on while getting ready in my room I used to switch on the television to watch the game and that would continue till we reached the dressing room. We saw the finals but brilliant, they really batted well”, he said. “And with the help of some brilliant performances, individual performances, Unmukt has really done well in the finals. It was fantastic moment to watch them celebrate that victory once they got the trophy. The celebration was superb,” Tendulkar said. (PTI)