Sachin, Dhoni on Forbes list

NEW DELHI: Master blaster Sachin Tendulkar and Indian team captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni have their name featuring on Forbes list of 100 highest paid athletes of the World.

Dhoni has been ranked 31st while Sachin is on 78th place in the list that was released on Monday by the Forbes Magazine.

Floyd Mayweather Jr. has topped the annual list of the world’s 100 highest-paid athletes.

The US boxer, whose nickname is Money, has earned $85 million, despite spending less than an hour in the ring.

Mayweather fought twice between June 2011 to June 2012, knocking out Victor Ortiz in September and winning a unanimous decision in May against Miguel Cotto.

The 35-year-old fighter is currently serving a three-month prison term for assaulting his ex-girlfriend back in 2010.

Manny Pacquiao, Mayweather’s main rival for the title of the planet’s best pound-for-pound boxer, has taken the second spot in the list.

He placed second position on the list with $62 million from earnings and endorsements.

Golfer Tiger Woods, who has been the top-earner since 2001, managed only third position this time earning $59.4 million..

His income decreased by $16 million in comparison with the previous year.

The Top 10 highest-paid athletes included basketball ace LeBron James ($53 million), tennis player Roger Federer ($52.7 million), another NBA great Kobe Bryant ($52.3 million), golfer Phil Mickelson ($47.8 million), and two footballers – David Beckham ($46 million) and Cristiano Ronaldo ($42.5 million).

Tennis queen Maria Sharapova remains the world’s wealthiest female athlete, occupying 26th spot after adding $27.6 million to her bank account last year.

Maria’s WTA Tour rival Na Li is in 81st spot as the first Chinese to win a Grand Slam made $18.4 million.

The world’s 100 highest-paid athletes have jointly earned a total of $2.6 billion in the last 12 months.

BDST: 2130 HRS, JUN 19, 2012
Edited by: Mohammed Humayun Kabir, Sr Newsroom Editor