Serbian tennis star Novak Djokovic was named the Laureus Sportsman of the Year in a glittering ceremony at Shanghai yesterday. The Laureus Sportswoman of the Year honour has gone to Ethiopian sprinter Genzebe Dibaba. The ceremony also saw the induction of Indian batting legend Sachin Tendulkar into the Laureus Academy. The dazzling award ceremony, hosted by Sherlock star Benedict Cumberbatch, also saw Tendulkar become one of the five new members of the Laureus Sports Academy. Kapil Dev and Rahul Dravid are the other Indian cricketers to receive the recognition. Retired Chinese professional basketball player Yao Ming, Kenyan long-distance runner Tegla Loroupe, Chinese gymnast LiXiaopeng and former Chinese short track speed skater Yang Yang were the other athletes inducted into the Academy. Among other awards, the football World Cup winning Germany side were voted the Team of the Year. Schalk Burger of South Africa, who fought through life-threatening meningitis to win back his place in the Springboks rugby team, was chosen for Comeback of the Year. Two-time Grand Slam winner Li Na of China, who won the Australian Open last year, before retiring from the sport due to chronic and worsening left knee injury, was awarded the Laureus Exceptional Achievement Award. Outstanding wheelchair racer Tatyana McFadden collected the award for Laureus World Sports person of the Year with a Disability. The Laureus World Action Sportsperson of the Year was presented to America's Alan Eustace, who holds the world record for the highest-altitude free fall jump. Australian Oliver Percovich, who changed the lives of young girls in war-ravaged Afghanistan with his skateboarding project, won the Laureus Sport for World title. Retired Chinese basketball player Ming, who had a stunning career with Houston Rockets until he retired in 2011, was presented with the Laureus Spirit of Sports Award. The winners were chosen by the Laureus Sports Academy.
News On AIR | April 16, 2015 7:18 AM
Djokovic, Dibaba bag Laureus Awards