Indian Rohan Bopanna and Pakistani Ul-Haq Aisam Qureshi have played in a doubles team for three years and are building their careers together, despite historical hostilities that divide India and Pakistan.

The image of them together was revealed as the winner - chosen by website voters - during the 21st Georges Bertellotti Golden Podium Awards Monaco 2010.

The two tennis players have managed to bring the political authorities in their respective countries closer, through their own history of personal friendship and commitment.

Joel Bouzou, President and founder of Peace and Sport, declared: "The message of peace given by Rohan and Aisam is a unique source of inspiration for young people in their respective countries, but its significance does not stop there.

"They use their charisma and sporting success to raise awareness among the entire international community, their fellow athletes and political authorities in their countries, as we saw at the US Open.

"I hope their appeal will lead the way to new rapprochement initiatives.

"Sport's greatest victory is not measured in terms of medals.

"It is measured by its ability to positively change people's lives and bring them hope and that's exactly what Rohan and Aisam succeed in doing.

"They demonstrate what champions can achieve when they use their celebrity for a good cause."

For three years, the photographic award - presented in partnership with SPORTELMonaco and Getty Images - has honoured the best image of fraternity through sport or a symbolic moment showing the ability of sport to advance peace in the world and to encourage reconciliation among peoples.

This year, for the first time, the winner was chosen by a public voting system on the internet.

The winning photograph, submitted by the ATP World Tour and taken by Jay Mandal, won nearly 60 per cent of the votes.

The award will be presented to Rohan Bopanna and Ul-Haq Aisam Qureshi and representatives of their countries' authorities during the Gala Evening of the 4th International Forum Peace and Sport, which takes place on December 2 in Monaco in the presence of HSH Prince Albert II and 450 international leaders from the worlds of sport and peace.

The players' next humanistic goal is to organise a friendly tennis match at the Wagah border, the only checkpoint that exists between India and Pakistan.

This symbolic event, supported by Peace and Sport, will incarnate the wish of Indian and Pakistani young people to live in peace.