Sachin Tendulkar reveals his son's interest in joining Indian Air Force
Indian batting legend Sachin Tendulkar said that his son Arjun Tendulkar, 16, is very much interested in joining the Indian Air Force (IAF), NDTV Sports reports. The 42-year-old was speaking to reporters on the sidelines of the Air Force Day Parade at the Hindon air base near India’s capital city, New Delhi.
Tendulkar was made an Honorary Group Captain in the IAF in 2010, thus becoming the first sportsperson in the country and the first individual without experience in the aviation industry to be honoured with such a distinguished post. On the occasion of the 83rd Air Force Day celebrations held earlier today, October 8th, Tendulkar, who attended the ceremony dressed in his IAF uniform, revealed the interest his son held in serving for the elite defence force.
"I wanted to get my son here today. He is very much interested in the air force," Tendulkar said.
The Master Blaster who made his mark in international cricket as a brave 16-year-old facing up to fearsome Pakistani bowling attack comprising of the likes of Waqar Younis and Wasim Akram, however, feels that his son, who is also 16 years old now, is too young to make a concrete decision on the matter.
"He is too young to decide. But he is very interested in it," Tendulkar said.
The iconic cricketer also added that the plans to fly a Sukhoi fighter jet was yet to take off. Back in 2011, then IAF Air Chief Marshal PV Naik had claimed that Tendulkar along with the limited-overs skipper MS Dhoni would be flying the Sukhoi Su-30MKI, the frontline fighter of the Indian Air Force.
"We are awaiting availability of time from their cricketing commitments. They will be flying the Sukhoi once they can spare time," Naik had said, as reported by India Today.
After attending the ceremony, Tendulkar took to his official Twitter account to express his solidarity with the IAF for their selfless service for the nation.
He also posted a short video clip of various aircrafts engaging in stunning aerobatics in the air.