Friday, April 8, 2011

Sify boss catches World Cup final ball for 64L

CHENNAI: Sify chairman and managing director Raju Vegesna has taken an expensive but a priceless catch. Vegesna shelled out $145,100 (Rs 64 lakh) to beat more than 100 bidders in an International Cricket Council (ICC) auction on Wednesday night to win the the historic ball, which M S Dhoni smashed for a six to lift the World Cup.

Vegesna dedicated the 'victory ball' to his team at Sify. "It is dedicated to the passion, confidence, teamwork and execution which India showed in this match," he said. 

The World Cup ball is just the latest acquisition in the memorabilia collector's locker. Vegesna owns a boxing glove of legendary boxer Muhammad Ali, and the ball used in 49ers' Super Championship win in American Football. The serial entrepreneur also boasts of guitars belonging to Eric Clapton, Rolling Stones and ex-Beatle Paul McCartney. "These are unique but cricket has a special place in my heart," he says. 

For a person who started life in a small village in coastal Andhra Pradesh and is today a serial entrepreneur of great repute in the Silicon Valley, Vegesna has come a long way. 

The annual sales conference of Sify was held in Bangalore on the April 2. After the conference, arrangements were made for the 500-strong Sify team to watch the match live on a big screen with Vegesna. Once the match was over, Vegesna threw a party for the employees which continued till the wee hours. 

On the star of the final, Vegesna is effusive in his praise: "Dhoni is my hero. He led from the front and ended the match with a fantastic six which I am sure people will remember for a long time. He showed great leadership." 

He flew down from the US, where he is based to Chennai, which houses the headquarters of Sify Technologies , for the conference held at a city hotel. "I saw the passion among the people of this country. This match was a symbol of excellence for us. There was a doubt in every mind whether India can do it. Confidence and teamwork saw us through," said Vegesna. "It's also a reflection of how India is competing in the world market and trying to become a global player. We all realise it's the same human qualities we saw in this win that will make this dream possible."

Source:- Economics Times

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