Tendulkar to Gopichand: You've been a wonderful role model

Hyderabad: Lauding PV Sindhu and Sakshi Malik for winning medals at the Rio Olympic Games, cricket icon Sachin Tendulkar today said it is the beginning of a wonderful journey for the duo.

Sachin Tendulkar

"This is a wonderful moment for Indian sport. Journey begins here, I am sure this doesn't stop here, we all will be joining that journey and are there to support you. You will keep us giving number of occasions to celebrate," he said.

Tendulkar, who was the Goodwill Ambassador of the Indian team at the Rio Olympics, handed over the keys at a function at the Gopichand Badminton Academy.

"Gopichand you have been a wonderful role model, you have gone a notch higher. We need your guidance in getting more medals. I thank various other coaches also," the batting maestro said.

"On behalf of the entire nation, I can say that all these sportspersons standing beside me have brought laurels to our nation. I thank everyone for supporting and praying (for sportspersons) that is what an athlete looks out for," he said.

"Your preparation...sacrificed so many things...you are not allowed to eat certain things and phones were kept aside, to enable you to focus. I saw such was the focus," Tendulkar said.