Sachin Tendulkar addressing spectators |
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.