“Li Na is my favourite to win a Laureus Award” says tennis legend Boris Becker
Tennis legend and Laureus World Sports Academy Member Boris Becker has said that newly retired Chinese tennis star Li Na, who won the Australian Open Grand Slam at the start of the year, could win a Laureus World Sports Award.
Becker, speaking at the German Sport for Good Weekend charity night in Munich, said: “The year is not over yet, but obviously I have my favourites. Shanghai is a wonderful choice. China is a very important country with lots of sporting stars. I’ve just heard that Li Na has retired from tennis so she’d be one of my favourites to win one of the important prizes.”
The Sport for Good night was part of the broader Laureus Sport for Good Weekend, which consisted of the Kicking Girls project visit, the charity night, and the Laureus Sport for Good golf tournament. It was the third annual Sport for Good Weekend, whose goal is to focus the public's attention on the charitable work of the Laureus Sport for Good Foundation and to generate significant donations to help the Laureus supported projects which benefit disadvantaged children and young people in Germany.
It was a successful night, as €600,000 were raised for the Laureus Sport for Good Foundation Germany/Austria mostly due to the auction of very special prizes such as a Mercedes-Benz 280SL Pagode and a VIP hospitality experience package to the 2014 Abu Dhabi Grand Prix with a Meet & Greet with Laureus Ambassador and F1 star Nico Rosberg, among many others.
Many members of the Laureus Family were present during the weekend. Laureus Ambassadors Sabine Christiansen, Verena Bentele, Ole Bischof, Stefan Blöcher, Fredi Bobic, Martin Braxenthaler, Felix Gottwald, Christa Kinshofer, Jens Lehmann, Manuel Fumic, Axel Schulz, Marcel Siem and Kathi Wörndl were accompanied by Laureus Academy Members Franz Beckenbauer, Boris Becker, Bobby Charlton, Mike Horn, Franz Klammer and Daley Thompson.
Becker added: “I am very proud to be part of this wonderful sporting family. We have raised a lot of money to support kids to better their lives through sport, which is a very important vehicle to bring a healthy and wonderful message across the world.”
