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Yuvraj Singh waves to his fans from the terrace of his residence, in Gurgaon, on Monday. (PTI) |
Calcutta/New Delhi: Yuvraj Singh has returned home after spending two-and-a-half months in the US, where he underwent three cycles of chemotherapy for a rare germ cell cancer between his lungs.
Yuvraj arrived in New Delhi by a Jet Airways flight from London, on Monday morning, where he spent some days to recuperate from the after-effects of the chemotherapy. He was received by his mother, Shabnam, and numerous fans.
“I am happy to be back home, recovering well. I will answer all your questions day after tomorrow (at a press conference),” said Yuvraj as he flashed a victory sign for his fans.
Yuvraj, who has lost all his hair due to the effects of chemotherapy, sported a red cap, a red T-shirt teamed with khaki pants.
Walking patiently through a massive crowd of elated fans, the 30-year-old boarded a white Audi SUV, which drove him to his Gurgaon home from the airport.
“It (the cancer) is completely out of his system and he is better now,” assured a friend, who was with him in the US during the treatment.
“Finally the day has come ! i am going home tomorrow ! can’t wait , excited to see my friends and family …see you india!! mera bharat mahan!” the Man of the Tournament of last year’s World Cup had tweeted on Sunday.
Fans from all across the country cheered Yuvraj’s arrival. Some fans had come to the airport all the way from Punjab to welcome him. Who couldn’t come to the airport, used the social networking websites to wish the all-rounder.
Some of his fans and mediapersons also gathered outside his home where he spoke briefly. When asked what his mother had cooked for him, he said, ‘gobi ke paranthe’.
His mother Shabnam spoke to the media and said Yuvraj has been advised rest for 10-15 days. “He is absolutely fine. He’s been advised rest for 10-15 days.”
She also said that it’s been a tough period. “It was tough. But we are happy that he’s back. It’s like we have won the World Cup again.”
“I think that the entire nation has been so good and he is grateful to everyone... He does not have to see any doctor before another three months. For now, he will just rest,” she added.
Yuvraj’s father, Yograj said: “I salute the fighter, the soldier Yuvraj Singh. Today, I am a proud father. Before last year’s World Cup, he told me that ‘dad, winning the Cup is very important’.
“He told me that whatever happens to him won’t matter, but ‘if we win the Cup, it will be a great achievement, which will make the whole country proud’.”
Yuvraj was diagnosed with a type of cancer called “mediastinal seminoma”, a germ-cell tumour located between his two lungs.
He underwent three sessions of chemotherapy in Indianapolis, at the IU Simon Cancer Centre at the Indiana University Medical Centre, under Lawrence H Einhorn, who headed the treatment of cycling champion Lance Armstrong in 1996.
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