Sachin Tendulkar becomes IAF's honorary Group Captain
merisarkar news service
New Delhi, September 03, 2010
IAF Chief PV Naik conferred the rank on Tendulkar
Indian Air Force on Friday conferred Sachin Tendulkar with the honorary rank of Group Captain to honour his cricketing achievements and contribution to the nation.
Sachin Tendulkar is the first sportsperson to be conferred a rank by IAF and the first personality with no aviation background to receive the honour.
In 2008, India's World Cup winning captain Kapil Dev had received the honorary rank of Lieutenant Colonel of the Territorial Army.
The 37-year-old Tendulkar was inducted into the Air Force as its brand ambassador with IAF chief Air Chief Marshal PV Naik doing the honours in a glittering ceremony at the Air Force auditorium in New Delhi.
"It's a great pleasure and honour to be honoured by IAF. It was a wishful thinking and it has come true today. I'm extremely proud to be a part of IAF. I want to urge the youth to join air force and serve the nation. So dream, because dreams do come true," Tendulkar said after receiving the honour.
Earlier, President Pratibha Patil had conferred the honorary rank of the IAF on the iconic batsman on 23rd June this year.
The rank was conferred on Tendulkar under the provision of granting honorary rank by Armed Forces to eminent personalities acknowledging their contribution towards the nation.
The IAF had, in January this year, mooted a proposal to confer the honorary rank of Group Captain on Sachin Tendulkar.
IAF feels that besides the recognition, his association with it would motivate the younger generation to join the Air Force to serve the country.
