Indian International cricketers Sachin Tendulkar and Yuvraj Singh shared the stage to launch Yuvraj’s memoir - The Test of My Life at ITC Maurya Sheraton, New Delhi on March 19. The book, published by Random House India, documents a journey which celebrates the essence of human will to fight adversity and triumph despite all odds.
Speaking at the launch, Yuvraj Singh said, “As its name suggests, this book is about the toughest test of my life. Telling my story in my words, it reveals a journey that has given me a new sense of understanding about not only pain and despair but also hope and courage. My battle with cancer has been an experience which has made me feel more responsible about my community, cancer patients and survivors. In our country only a few people are willing to publically share their battle with cancer.”
Singh adds, “This book is my humble attempt to spread awareness and remove the stigma around the disease. I hope it can help people to fight their battle against not just cancer but any other hardship in their life. If it can make their battle a little easier, I would be a very pleased man.” He further thanks his co-authors Sharda Ugra, Nishant Jeet Arora and publishers Random House for helping to share his story with the world. He says, “And, please remember: ‘If Yuvi can, you can’.”
The Test of My Lifeby Yuvraj Singh talks about the three C’s of Yuvraj’s life- Cricket, Cup and Cancer. The book describes events right from when Yuvraj was at the height of his game winning the World Cup and being awarded as the Player of the Tournament, to being diagnosed with and fighting cancer.
“I am extremely happy to be launching this book on Yuvi's journey through cancer. He handled those toughest days in his life with great courage and positivity. I have always been a great admirer of Yuvi. I am sure he will much achieve more, both on and off the field, in the years to come.
Under his charity YOUWECAN, he is trying to motivate and inspire people by sharing his experiences through this book. I wish Yuvi and his book the very best,” adds Sachin Tendulkar.
The book launch was followed by a conversation between Sachin and Yuvraj moderated by Harsha Bhogle. The discussion revealed some of the most hilarious, extremely painful and inspirational moments of Yuvraj’s life right from the time he was diagnosed with cancer. Yuvraj also revealed how this book is a story about his struggle, denial, acceptance, and new challenges ahead.
Commenting on the occasion, Milee Ashwarya, Editorial Director, Ebury, Random House India said, “I am very proud to publish Yuvraj Singh’s The Test of My Life. Told with openness and honesty, Yuvraj’s voice comes alive in the book and it allows us to understand him as a cricketer but more importantly as a person through his most trying times. I felt Yuvraj’s story needed to be told and we at Random House India are delighted that he has chosen us to help him do that. I want to thank my entire team at Random House India who made this possible.”
This book is a part of Yuvraj Singh and YouWeCan’s continued effort to generate awareness about cancer. The proceeds made from the sale of this book will go towards YouWeCan and will be used to set up centres across the country to help people come forward for early detection of cancer. The book has been published by Random House India and the co-authors of the book are Sharda Ugra, Sr. Editor at ESPN Cricinfo and Nishant Jeet Arora, ex Journalist & present Manager to Yuvraj Singh.
About the Book:
“That night I cried like a baby. When no one could see me or hear me. Not because I feared what cancer would do but because I didn’t want the disease. I wanted my life to be normal, which it could no longer be.”
In 2011 Yuvraj Singh was at the height of his game: a member of the World Cup winning Indian cricket team and awarded the accolade of Player of the Tournament. Yet these on-the-field triumphs hid increasingly puzzling health problems and worrying illnesses. Yuvraj was plagued by insomnia, breathing difficulties, coughing fits that left him vomiting blood and an inability to eat. On a fateful night before the T20 final he made a deal with God – to give him the World Cup in return for anything God wanted.
Months later Yuvraj was in hospital in the US receiving chemotherapy for cancer and facing the test of his life. In his remarkably candid and intimate book, Yuvraj will tell for the first time the full story of his battle with cancer. He lays bare his fears, doubts and the lows he experienced during chemotherapy when he lost energy, his appetite and his hair. He speaks about his battle to find the will to survive and the strength and support he found to help him pull through. And, most importantly, he tells his story for other sufferers in order to help them deal with the sadness, loneliness, fear and desperation of cancer.
“Chemo can wipe you out. But you can come back. You’ve got to believe you can come back. You will come back. This is why I am telling you my story. About my life before cancer, with cancer, and my life after it. It is a story about struggle, denial, acceptance, and new struggles ahead.”
Poignant, personal and moving, and featuring never-before-seen personal pictures, The Test of My Life, is about cancer and cricket but more importantly about the human will to fight adversity and triumph despite all odds.
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The Test of My Life will be available in two editions – hardback Rs 399 and luxe edition Rs 999 at all the leading bookstores in India.