Yellow Fever: Why my heart beats for Brazil

There’s a strange affinity for the Latin American land that produces heroes who come from favelas

When armchair critics on television suggest local fans were rallying behind PV Sindhu in the semi-final against Japan’s Nozomo Okuhara, since she was wearing yellow jersey, a smile comes to my face. When the Brazilian Olympic skipper is christened ‘Neymar the Redeemer’ in tabloid headlines after helping his country win gold in the football finale at the Maracana, I can feel a sense of vindication, almost.

Neymar after helping his team win gold at the Rio Olympics(REUTERS)

Brazil's Neymar poses with his son Davi Lucca after the medal ceremony of the final match of the mens's Olympic football tournament between Brazil and Germany at the Maracana stadium in Rio de Janeiro . (AP)