Sachin Tendulkar was inducted, along with four other exceptional athletes, as a Laureus World Sports Academy member at the 16th Laureus World Sports Awards ceremony here on Wednesday evening.
The legendary batsman has become the third Indian, after fellow cricketers Kapil Dev and Rahul Dravid, to join a league of extraordinary sportspersons committed to helping underprivileged children through the Laureus Sport for Good Foundation.
“It’s a huge honour standing here, being a member of the Laureus Academy. I never thought I would be sharing the stage with the heroes whom I admired while growing up,” said Tendulkar.
The Bharat Ratna exhorted India’s youth to get off their computers and go out and play to become healthier and fitter.
Serbia’s Novak Djokovic and Ethiopia’s Genzebe Dibaba were chosen World sportsman and sportswoman of the year at a colourful function hosted by Benedict ‘Sherlock’ Cumberbatch at the sprawling Shanghai Grand Theatre here.
Dibaba was recognised for her remarkable feat of running to three world records in three different events in just two weeks, and Djokovic picked up his second Laureus (after 2012) for a remarkable 2014 that brought him many titles including Wimbledon.
However, neither awardee could be present to receive the Cartier-crafted silver statuette, and thanked the academy through video messages.
The German football team, which lifted the 2014 FIFA World Cup, was named ‘World Team of the Year’ and the award was accepted by Die Mannschaft manager Oliver Bierhoff.
Daniel Ricciardo, who came third in the 2014 Formula One season, won the ‘World Breakthrough of the Year’ honours, while South African rugby star Schalk Burger was chosen for the ‘Comeback of the Year’ award.
There was cheer for the local fans as Li Na, the country’s greatest-ever tennis player, and basketball superstar Yao Ming were presented with the Laureus ‘Exceptional Achievement’ and ‘Spirit of Sport’ awards for their remarkable and inspirational careers.
The awardees: World Sportsman of the Year: Novak Djokovic (Serbia). World Sportswoman of the Year: Genzebe Dibaba (Ethiopia). World Team of the Year: German men’s football team. World Breakthrough of the Year: Daniel Ricciardo (Australia). World Comeback of the Year: Schalk Burger (South Africa). World Sportsperson of the Year with a Disability: Tatyana McFadden (USA). World Action Sportsperson of the Year: Alan Eustace (USA). Sport for Good Award: Oliver Percovich (Australia). Spirit of Sport Award: Yao Ming (China). Exceptional Achievement Award: Li Na (China).
World Sports Academy inductees: Sachin Tendulkar (India), Tegla Loroupe (Kenya) and Yao Ming, Yang Yang and Li Xiaopeng (all China).
(V.V. Ramanan is in Shanghai at the invitation of Laureus for the Academy’s annual awards)