That Sachin Tendulkar is an inspiration is not in doubt. That he could have had as strong an effect as this was not expected.
SV Sunil would have returned home from Malaysia had it not been for Tendulkar. For those wondering in this cricket crazy world who SV Sunil is, he is a member of the Indian hockey team, nay, the successful Indian hockey team that returned home with the Sultan Azlan Shah Trophy from Malaysia.
Sunil lost his father a day before India were to play their first match against Egypt. While Sunil said that the team coach Harendra Singh and some of his mates wanted him to return home to perform the last rites, Sunil recalled that Sachin Tendulkar was in a similar situation during the 1999 World Cup in England when he found himself in a similar dilemma.
On that occasion Sachin returned to England to score a century and dedicate it to his father. Sunil decided to stay on and continue playing for India to keep alive his father’s dream to see his son represent the country.
Such noble sacrifices can only explain the passion and dedication and make men like Sunil make us want to stand taller in the face of difficult odds, and Sachin proved the inspiration on the day as Sunil’s team dedicated the victory to his father, as emotions overwhelmed him.
