Sachin to become IAF's honorary Gp Capt on Sept 3

New Delhi, Aug 31 (PTI) India's top cricketer Sachin
Tendulkar, who is not new to awards and honours, will be
conferred with IAF's honorary rank of Group Captain.
Indian Air Force chief Air Chief Marshal P V Naik will do
the honours at a ceremony here on Friday when the star
cricketer will be inducted into the Air Force to be its brand
ambassador, according to IAF officers.
President Pratibha Patil had conferred the honorary rank
of the IAF on the batting maestro on June 23 this year.
The honorary rank was conferred on Sachin under the
provision of granting honorary rank by Armed Forces to eminent
personalities acknowledging their contribution towards the
nation.
"The President and the Supreme Commander of the Armed
Forces of India is pleased to confer Sachin Ramesh Tendulkar
the honorary rank of Group Captain of the Indian Air Force,"
the IAF had then said.
The honour to one of India's greatest batsman came in
recognition of his glorious achievements as a cricketer and
sports icon par excellence.
The IAF had in January this year mooted a proposal to
confer the honorary rank of Group Captain.
IAF feels that besides the recognition, his association
with it would motivate the younger generation to join the
Air Force to serve the country.
When the conferment was announced, an elated Tendulkar
had said he was proud to be part of IAF family.
"It is indeed a great honour that I have been considered
for honorary Group Captain in the IAF. As an Indian I am proud
to be associated with the dynamic force and I shall do my very
best to be brand ambassador for the force," he had 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.
In 2008, India's World Cup winning captain Kapil Dev had
received the honorary rank of Lieutenant Colonel of the
Territorial Army.
Till date, 21 eminent personalities have been granted
honorary ranks by the IAF, the first person being the Raja of
Jawhar Raja Yashwant Rao, who was conferred the Flight
Lieutenant rank in 1944.
Industrialist J R D Tata was made an honorary Air Vice
Marshal in 1974 and the last one to get such an honour in 1990
was industrialist-cum-aviator Vijaypat Singhania, who is now
an honorary Air Commodore.
Once Tendulkar receives the honour, he would be the first
sports person to be conferred a rank by IAF and the first
personality with no aviation background to have got this
honour. PTI NCB
RBT


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