Despite the knowledge that he had developed a serious health problem, winning the World Cup was at the top of Yuvraj Singh's priority list around the time the mega-event was on, his father Yograj said today.

"I salute the fighter, the soldier Yuvraj Singh. Today, I am a proud father. Before last year's World Cup, he told me that 'dad, winning the Cup is very important'. He told me that whatever happens to him won't matter, but 'if we win the Cup, it will be a great achievement, which will make the whole country proud'," an emotional Yograj said today.

"He is a rare person. He is a gem and any parent will be proud to have such a son. Not many know that his condition was not good during the World Cup. Sometimes, he used to vomit blood but he was determined to lift the Cup for the country. "Over the next few days, he will himself tell everything to the media," Yograj, cricketer-turned-film actor, said.