"It was hard to believe that I had this illness," started off Yuvraj Singh as he interacted with the media at his cricket academy, Yuvraj Singh Centre of Excellence, on Wednesday afternoon. Yuvraj was accompanied by his doctor Dr Nitesh Rohatgi.
The India all-rounder said it was the US cycling legend Lance Armstrong who inspired him to battle with cancer. He said he kept motivating himself in the battle against cancer.
Here are the excerpts from that interaction
On his return: "Hopefully I will be back on the field in a couple of months."
"It's nice to be in front of the Indian media after a long time," he said.
"To get my life back is something very special," he added.
"My mother and friends were with me during the chemotherapy. Cyclist and cancer survivor Armstrong inspired me. My mother was my strength. My mother did not shed a tear. She has been stronger than me."
"I was always happy and cheerful but inside I always thought there is a serious issue and I hoped there would be an outcome soon. I just had to come out of it."
"It was hard to believe that I have this illness. It was hard to believe a person like me can go through this because I am an athlete,” he says. At the moment I am very happy with the way I am living my life. I am being very positive as I always have been."
"When the doctors said 'you can go back home' it was the happiest day of my life."
On IPL: "I miss playing the IPL. It is a great tournament. I wish Pune team all the best."
"Want to thank family, friends, BCCI, media, sponsors, fans. Thank You," he concluded.
Earlier Report
India all-rounder Yuvraj Singh is set to address a press conference at his academy, Yuvraj Singh Centre of Excellence here on Wednesday in a few minutes time.
This will be his first official interaction with the media after returning from the US post-cancer treatment.
Yuvraj returned home on Monday morning in New Delhi after undergoing chemotherapy for a rare germ cell cancer between his lungs in the US.
Yuvraj landed at the Indira Gandhi International Airport on Monday morning and there was a huge contingent of media and fans to welcome the 2011 World Cup hero. Yuvraj's mother Shabnam was there to receive his son.
Once he came out of the airport, sporting a red sports cap and a red T-shirt, Yuvraj posed with his mother for the media photographers and fans. He waved his hand and showed thumbs up sign as he posed for the cameras.
"I'm happy to be back home. Recovering well," Yuvraj said. On asked what his mom had cooked for him for lunch, he replied: "Gobi Paranthas."
Yuvraj's mother spoke to the media outside their home. He said it was like "India winning the World Cup again" to see his son back home.
"It is like winning the World Cup again. I am very happy that he is back," she said.
"The entire nation has been so nice. We are very grateful to everybody for all those prayers," she added.
"He is fine now and needs 10 to 15 days rest."
