Sachin gets IAF honorary rank
The Indian Air Force (IAF) on Friday conferred its honourary rank on batting icon Sachin Tendulkar with a hope that it would help attract youngsters towards a career in the IAF.
Tendulkar is the second cricketer, after legendary all-rounder Kapil Dev, to receive an honourary rank in the armed forces. In 2008, Dev had received the honourary rank of Lieutenant Colonel of the Territorial Army. Film actor Mohan Lal also received the honourary Lt Col rank from the TA last year.
The world’s highest run-getter is the first sportsperson to be conferred a rank (Group Captain) by the IAF and the first personality with no aviation background to receive the
honour.
IAF chief P V Naik did the honours in a glittering ceremony here.
‘Dream come true’
“It’s a great pleasure and honour to be honoured by the IAF. It was a wishful thinking and it has come true today. I’m extremely proud to be a part of the IAF. I want to urge the youth to join the Air Force and serve the nation. So dream, because dreams do come true,” Tendulkar said.
President Pratibha Patil had conferred the honourary rank of the IAF on the iconic batsman on June 23 this year under the provision of granting honourary rank by armed forces to eminent personalities acknowledging their contribution towards the nation.
Inspiring youth
Naik said the batting legend’s association with the IAF will help in making the youth aware of the Air Force.
“Youth admires him (Tendulkar). 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,” he said. The Indian Air Force, at the moment is short of about 1,300 officers.
