Yuwa – a Jharkhand based NGO, which works for girl empowerment won the Laureus Sport for Good award on Sunday. It became the third Indian entry to get the honour.
Radha Kumari, Neeta Kumari, Konika Kumari and Hema Kumari, who received the award on behalf of the foundation, faced the world media and with absolute happiness.
Top #Laureus19 day ahead of tomorrow’s Awards in Monaco.
Congrats to Sport for Good Award winners @YuwaFootball, an incredible programme that proves the positive impact the beautiful game can have. ⚽️???? pic.twitter.com/W6IKwWpfjO
— Iain Clark (@IainClark38) February 17, 2019
Also Read: Vinesh Phogat Nominated for Laureus Sports Award
About Yuwa
The NGO, founded by Americans Franz Gastler and Rose Thomson Gastler in 2009, runs a football program in rural Jharkhand covering 450 girls. The four girls received the award on behalf of them.
The girls were very excited and happy. “It is great just being here,” said Radha. “We have also been to the United States and Spain.”
This years Sport for Good winners Yuwa from India announced and presented by Arsene Wenger, Sean Fitzpatrick, Nawal El Moutawakel, Missy Franklin and Kosovare Asllani!
The Yuwa girls were incredible! Thank you for the support ? ?? #Laureus19 pic.twitter.com/HfOqOyDyAh
— Lee Parker (@ParkerSport) February 17, 2019
India at Laureus Sport for Good Award
The first time that India won the award was in 2004. The cricket teams of India and Pakistan were jointly declared the winner for resuming the bilateral series despite the political tension between the countries. Then 10 years later, in 2014, Magic Bus received the honour for transforming the lives of the underprivileged children in the country.
They have been able to play some football with some legends here as well, like the World-Cup winning Brazilian Cafu and former Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger. “They are technically good,” Wenger said.
Here’s the beautiful film made by Laureus and Mercedes-Benz introducing Yuwa as winners of the 2019 Laureus Sport for Good Award #laureus19https://t.co/Ykflkuv6st https://t.co/Ykflkuv6st
— Yuwa (@YuwaFootball) February 18, 2019
“They showed football could be a team game though it is said to be a sport played by 11 selfish players,” she added.
Five-time Olympic champion swimmer Missy Franklin too was inspired by the story of the Indian girls who come from humble backgrounds and from a region where child marriage is prevalent.
“It is just so inspiring to hear their story and meet them. I am glad I could spend some time with them,” said the 23-year-old Franklin, who took a shock retirement from the sport in December last year.
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