Sachin delighted with new IAF (Group Captain) role

Sachin Tendulkar addressing spectators

NEW DELHI: Sachin Ramesh Tendulkar today found himself in the swarm of men in blue. He was not in the company of his cricket teammates. These were the air warriors who enthusiastically cheered beginning of batting maestro’s new innings as group captain of the Indian Air Force.

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.
After air chief marshal P.V Naik conferred honorary rank on Tendulkar, who had smartly turned up in IAF’s sky blue uniform, the cricket legend revoked childhood memories surrounding Top Gun and his fascination for speed and fighter jets.
Immediately after getting the rank, the new brand ambassador had twin tasks at hand — defending cricket’s tarnished image and inspiring confidence in youngsters.
Marshal of the Air Force Arjan Singh praised Sachin’s immaculate conduct on the cricket field.
Sachin admitted he had limited association with IAF apart from the pair of aviators he had brought for the ceremony. He also revealed how he had once flown in a fighter jet during one of the tours to South Africa. Sachin flew in Impala, a South African jet trainer based and the pre-flight briefing on how to eject in case of an emergency terrified him.
He was now looking forward to fly in an IAF Sukhoi. The IAF has already drawn plan to make their honorary group captain fly in a
Sukhoi and earn his wings. The wings are given only to those who fly. Sachin’s IAF uniform will remain wings until he earns them.
He said Top Gun was only a film and IAF does it in real life. “It would be a delight to be part of the real experience,” he said. Sachin was immediately accepted into the fraternity by IAF officers and their wives who had come in large numbers to attend the ceremony.

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 here.
"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 June 23 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.

Tendulkar being honored as IAF group captain
by Air Chief Marshall P.V.Naik 

The IAF had, in January this year, mooted a proposal to confer the honorary rank of Group Captain on 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.
Naik said the batting legend's association with IAF will help in making the youth aware about the Air Force.
"Youth admires him (Tendulkar). I think the youth will get inclined towards the Air Force. What youth will do in future we can't say but the indications that we are getting from school students ... we are hopeful.
"To take corrective measures in reforming the IAF is my duty and Sachin's association will help in spreading awareness (about the Air Force)," Naik said.
Before being felicitated with the honorary rank, Tendulkar had gone through a process of familiarisation with the IAF and training in basic military practices and drills.