Senior batsman Sachin Tendulkar was on Friday conferred with the Indian Air Force's honorary rank of Group Captain to honour his cricketing achievements and contribution to the nation. Tendulkar is the first sportsperson to be conferred a rank by IAF and the first personality with no aviation background to receive the honour. The 37-year-old cricketer was inducted into the Air Force as its brand ambassador with IAF chief Air Chief Marshal P V Naik doing the honours at a glittering ceremony at the Air Force auditorium in New Delhi.