Royal welcome for under-19 World Champs'

The Indian under-19 world conquerors received a royal welcome on their homecoming in Bangalore on Tuesday. The India under-19 cricket team, which won the World Cup at Kuala Lumpur defeating South Africa in the final, received a heroes’ welcome after their arrival in the city by a chartered flight.

Indian team had a dream run in the entire tournament since they remained unbeaten till last and also beat South Africa twice, first in the league match and then by 12 runs in the World Cup final.

The hosts of dignitaries including Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) President, Sharad Pawar, UB Group Chairman, Vijay Mallya, former Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister, Farooq Abdullah and Karnataka State Cricket Association Secretary, Brijesh Patel received and welcomed the champion team on their arrival at the airport.

There were huge numbers of fans that turned up and thronged the airport to get a glimpse of their favourite cricketers. The players acknowledged the greetings by waving towards their fans who were present there to receive and cheer them.

A special open double-decker bus festooned with balloons and flowers carried the cricketers through the streets of Bangalore en-route to Chinnaswamy Stadium as part of the victory parade, similar to the one accorded to the Twenty20 team in Mumbai after their victory.

Hundreds of fans cheered the players waving the tri-colour and placards on either sides of roads to welcome the triumphant boys. A dancing troupe preceding the bus was an added attraction for the fans.

BCCI President Sharad Pawar felicitated the team in a function at the ground. The Board has already announced a cash reward of Rs 15 lakh for each member of the winning team.

“Trust and determination were the key to India’s triumph,” Jubilant skipper Virat Kohli said.

“We played as a team and above all we had faith in ourselves to win the championship,” Kohli said while speaking at the felicitation function jointly organised by BCCI and KSCA.