The Hindu : Sport : Grand welcome for under-19 team

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Wednesday, Mar 05, 2008
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Grand welcome for under-19 team

Pawar, Mallya, Brijesh Patel receive the players

— Photo: G.P. Sampath Kumar

TRIUMPHANT RETURN: The Indian under-19 cricketers received a rousing welcome in Bangalore on Tuesday.

Bangalore: The India under-19 cricket team, which won the World Cup at Kuala Lumpur, received a heroes’ welcome on arrival here on Tuesday by a chartered flight.

The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) President, Sharad Pawar, UB Group Chairman, Vijay Mallya, former Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister, Farooq Abdullah, and the Karnataka State Cricket Association Secretary, Brijesh Patel, received the team on arrival.

Rousing welcome

The Indian colts were accorded a rousing welcome by the various BCCI dignitaries and cricket fans who waited to have a glimpse of the team that won the World Cup after eight years by defeating South Africa by 12 runs in the final on March 2.

The young Indian champions waved to the fans who thronged the airport. The players acknowledged the greetings of the fans who were lined up along the route holding placards and cheered the players.

Banners welcoming the Indian colts were put up across the route.

An open bus, decorated with balloons, was kept ready to carry the cricketers through the streets of Bangalore as part of the victory parade, akin to the one accorded to the Twenty20 team in Mumbai after their victory.

Later, hundreds of fans waving the tri-colour, cheered the players as they boarded the decorated bus en route to the Chinnaswamy Stadium.

A dancing troupe preceding the bus was an added attraction for the fans.

Kohlispeak

Faith and determination were the key to India’s triumph, the captain of the squad, Virat Kohli, said.

Speaking at the felicitation function organised by the BCCI and the KSCA, he said, “we had faith in ourselves in lifting the cup. We have played as a team.”

Kohli’s advice to the team during crucial moments was “let us play as a nation. Play the best game of your life.”

Reflecting on the team’s performance, coach Dav Whatmore said, “winning a tournament does not happen by chance. It does not happen overnight.”

Talking about the South African team, Whatmore said, “it was a tough group... it was a worthy opponent.” He expressed confidence that many of the boys would go forward and play for the national team.

Congratulating the team for its performance, former India captain Rahul Dravid described it as a “phenomenal achievement.” — PTI

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