Ice Bucket Challenge: Sania Mirza, Yuvraj Singh and Ashwini Ponnappa Get Drenched for ALS Charity
The Ice Bucket Challenge is an attempt to raise awareness for amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), also known as Lou Gehrig's disease, where challengers must dump a bucket of ice cold water over their heads. But if they can't brave the chill, the 'task' can be completed by donating 100 dollars to the ALS Association.
Indian sports stars Yuvraj Singh, Rohan Bopanna, Sania Mirza, Mahesh Bhupathi and Ashwini Ponnappa are among many others who have taken on the Ice Bucket Challenge that has gone viral on the Internet.
The Ice Bucket Challenge is an attempt to raise awareness for Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS), also known as Lou Gehrig's disease, where challengers must dump a bucket of ice cold water over their heads. If they can't brave the chill, the 'task' can be completed by donating 100 dollars to the ALS Association.
Indian tennis queen Sania took the challenge twice and both the videos became a rage on YouTube. Sania nominated five people in her doubles partners Cara Black, Bhupathi; Bollywood star Riteish Deshmukh, cricketer Yuvraj Singh and her sister Anam Mirza. She then spelled out the rules to them stating they had 24 hours to complete the daring task or could instead pay 100 dollars to the foundation.
Indian Premier Tennis League co-founder Bhupathi, who was challenged by Mirza to complete the task, looked very excited while holding a bucket of ice cold water in one hand. Before easily dumping the water on his head, he nominated his coach Scott Davidoff, Abhinav Bindra, Abhishek Bachhan and all the players of the Jaipur Pink Panthers Pro-Kabaddi league team, which is owned by Abhishek.
Interestingly, Yuvraj took the challenge too and jokingly said he wanted to kill Sania for nominating him but had no choice but to accept the challenge. There was a slight 'woof' coming from the flamboyant Indian cricketer as one of his friends loaded the ice cold water on his head but the 'Punjab ka Puttar' was strong enough to brave the chill.
Several Indian sportspersons such as Rohan Bopanna and Ashwini Ponnappa, a host of other sports celebrities have taken up the Ice Bucket Challenge. These include Cristiano Ronaldo, David Beckham, Chris Gayle, Stuart Broad and Darren Sammy. And not just sportspersons, the Ice Bucket Challenge has become a worldwide rage with almost every notable personality on planet earth doing their best to promote the cause and have some fun.
It is the charity stunt that has got everyone from billionaires to pop stars and even former US presidents drenched by buckets of freezing water.
US President Barack Obama, however, has declined a dare from Ethel Kennedy, the 86-year-old widow of late senator Robert F. Kennedy. Obama promised to make a gift instead.
(With agency inputs)