Government will help Yuvraj: Sports minister

India’s Sports Minister Ajay Maken has assured help for star cricket all-rounder Yuvraj Singh, who is undergoing chemotherapy in the US for a malignant lung tumour.

Maken said he had directed officials in the sports ministry to check the nature of help that Yuvraj needs.

“Wish Yuvraj a speedy recovery! Asking officials to find the quantum and nature of help required. Government should & will help him,” Maken tweeted.

Yuvraj, who was Man of the Tournament in the 2011 World Cup, left for the US last month and is undergoing chemotherapy at the Cancer Research Institute in Boston. The 30-year-old southpaw was diagnosed with malignant lung tumour in October though his family had maintained that it was non-malignant.

Yuvraj’s physiotherapist Jatin Chaudhary assured that the ailment is curable and the batsman would be fit to resume cricket in May.

“This tumour is rare and is cancerous but nothing to fear about because it is 100 percent curable. The best part is that tumour has been detected in stage one,” said Chaudhary.

Chaudhary said Yuvraj, who was earlier undergoing ayurvedic treatment, had to undergo chemotherapy immediately since the tumour is located just above his heart.

“Doctors had to decide whether to continue medication or go for chemotherapy but since parts of the tumour are just above the artery of his heart, there was a danger that while running it could burst. But it is 100 percent curable,” Chaudhary said.

Yuvraj is seeking inspiration from legendary cyclist Lance Armstrong, who survived testicular cancer to win the Tour de France a record seven times.