Indian cricketer Yuvraj Singh, who has become synonymous with strength and spirit, talks to Friday Gurgaon at his residence in DLF Phase I.
How long you have been living in the City? What memories do you have of Gurgaon?
I have been living in Gurgaon for the last seven years. I am based half of the time here, and the balance in Mumbai. I do keep travelling. When I came to the City, it was a huge “jungle”. However, now Gurgaon has its own identity. Most of the corporate companies have shifted base to the City. My mother prefers to stay in this City because of the facilities we have here. Places like the DLF Golf Course and the malls are very close. Also, it is fun to be
in Gurgaon.
What would you say about the sports scene in the City? Maybe time for a Corporate (Cricket) Cup?
I think if the City comes up with an international level cricket stadium it would be amazing. Sports infrastructure definitely needs to be improved. Actually, even better may be to develop a world class Sports Complex, that offers facilities for multiple sports. We have set up two sports academies in the City – both in Pathways School. These Academies offer world class sports facilities. The kids not only play cricket, but they are also trained for other sports – such as soccer and swimming. I think conducting a Corporate Cup is a good idea. As the City is a hub of multinationals, it will help make Gurgaon a sports active city.
How has been the response to these Academies?
The response has been extremely good. We started off with 5 to 10 kids, and now there are about 75. This is despite my illness and stay in the US. It shows the interest of youngsters in sports. Now that I am back, I will be able to give more time to them and would also like to set up such Academies across
the country.
Do you see Gurgaon as a Haryanvi City?
I feel Gurgaon has its own identity. In India, very few cities have developed like Gurgaon. This is the reason everybody wants to move to the City.
Any unusual fan experiences in the City?
There is a school right opposite to my house. If I am at home, kids from the school constantly come to my house and ring the doorbell to catch my attention. It is really funny. But it is good to watch them playing cricket in the school.
Tell us something about the initiative YouWeCan, that you recently announced. What plans do you have for the City?
YouWeCan is an initiative by my foundation, the Yuvraj Singh Foundation (YSF), to combat cancer by spreading awareness about the disease, and the advantages of early detection; and fighting the stigma attached to it. We will launch the first Detection Centre in Gurgaon. We are in the process of negotiating a piece of land for this. The Centre will have world class infrastructure, and a team of nine doctors. This Centre is going to be the most important for us. After establishing it, we will also launch mobile detection vans in the City, that can also benefit nearby areas.
Have you tied up with any hospital in the City?
No, YouWeCan is not into the treatment courses for cancer. I think the major cause of death due to cancer is lack of awareness about its symptoms, and the delay in detection. We will play a pivotal role in educating patients with regard to the symptoms and the clinical signs of cancer, followed by education on how to deal with the disease.
Any message to your fans?
The message I want to send across to all my fans is to please support this initiative – YouWeCan. It is very close to my heart. I think corporates too can play a big role. If we can play a cricket match between cancer patients and corporates, it will help generate more awareness about cancer – and can also help raise funds for the initiative.
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