Sachin named the most influential sportsperson in India

By Rahul Bajaj
for Cricketain.com

Published: March 10, 2010

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Mumbai: India’s batting maestro, Sachin Tendulkar, has been named the most influential individual in Indian sports in the annual Sports Illustrated Power list. Sachin is No. 1 in the top 50 list, followed closely by IPL Chairman Lalit Modi at second spot and liquor baron Dr Vijay Mallya at third.

Union Agriculture Minister and President elect of ICC, Sharad Pawar, Indian cricket team skipper Mahendra Singh Dhoni and BCCI president Shashank Manohar are fourth, fifth and sixth on the list respectively.

Some of the names in the 50 most influential people in Indian sports, including Tendulkar, tennis ace Sania Mirza (50th on the list), Beijing Olympics gold medalist shooter Abhinav Bindra (41st), Churchill Brothers Team owner Churchill Alemao (48th), Dempo Sports Team owner Shrinivas Dempo (49) were felicitated during a function here late last night.

“I wanted to play cricket wholeheartedly for the country. I am living my dream and have played with two-three generations. I wanted to be a special member of the team and I have done it,” Tendulkar said on the occasion.

Tendulkar added that he was still receiving congratulatory messages for becoming the first batsman in the history of one-day cricket to score a double hundred and that he was enjoying the good time.

“It has taken many years for a batsman to get a double-hundred (in ODIs). I am still getting great feedback. It feels terrific,” he said.

Asked about how he kept himself composed even after becoming the first Indian to win an individual gold medal in Olympics, Bindra said, “I have waited for it for the last 16 years.”

Meanwhile, Sania Mirza, who is recuperating from a wrist injury said she was on the way to recovery and was preparing for the Commonwealth games. “I am recovering from the injury. I should be back in a couple of weeks.”

As a special gesture, Kings XI Punjab co-owner Preity Zinta (the most powerful woman at 23 on the list) was presented with a diamond studded cricket ball.

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