Yuvraj Singh is the latest ace athlete who didn’t let a life-threatening condition keep him down. The score sheet:
Yuvraj Singh
The leaner, meaner Yuvraj has lost weight and is back to scoring heavily. Yuvraj’s roaring comeback from cancer and chemotherapy helped India defeat the Australians in the only T20 contest at Rajkot. Whenever Yuvi has a blast, India end up on the winning side. Yu-V for victory!
Eric Abidal
While playing for Barcelona in 2011, doctors found a 4-cm long tumour in the French footballer’s liver. He got surgery to remove it and subsequently underwent a liver transplant. Undaunted, Abidal bounced back to make a spectacular comeback to international football.
Jonah Lomu
Former New Zealand rugby union player Jonah Lomu discovered a kidney disorder in 1995. In 2004, during the World Cup, he almost suffered a renal failure. Still, over a long career, he helped New Zealand carve a reputation as the best team in the world. There’s even a tribute to him in the movie Invictus, about Nelson Mandela and the South African rugby team.
Martina Navratilova
The tennis legend underwent surgery to remove a malignant lump in 2010. Less than two weeks after the breast cancer surgery, she competed in the 24.9-mile triathlon in Hawaii. A few months later, just days after radiation therapy, Martina teamed up with Jana Novotna to win the ladies’ invitation doubles final at Wimbledon. “I think anybody that survives the communist system, they’re pretty tough!” she quipped in an interview.
Leander Paes
Once Martina’s doubles partner, Paes keeps in prime fitness. In 2003, within a month of lifting a Wimbledon title, he was detected with a 4-mm cyst. The condition could have become life-threatening, but Lee bounced back to continue playing; and last month, at the age of 40, famously won the US Open title.
Leander Paes
Once Martina’s doubles partner, Paes keeps in prime fitness. In 2003, within a month of lifting a Wimbledon title, he was detected with a 4-mm cyst. The condition could have become life-threatening, but Lee bounced back to continue playing; and last month, at the age of 40, famously won the US Open title.
From HT Brunch, October 20
Follow us on twitter.com/HTBrunch
Connect with us on facebook.com/hindustantimesbrunch