By IANS,
New Delhi : Sachin Tendulkar will not be running in the Olympic torch relay here Thursday as he is preoccupied with the captains meeting on the eve of the Indian Premier League.
Announcing Tendulkar’s decision not run in the relay, Indian Olympic Association (IOA) president Suresh Kalmadi told reporters Wednesday that the master blaster has, however, expressed his solidarity with the Olympic movement.
“He is not well and also he has a IPL captains meeting to attend. So he is not coming but he has expressed his solidarity with the Olympic movement.
Kalmadi said except India’s football captain Bhaichung Bhutia all other athletes invited for the torch relay expressed solidarity with the Olympic movement.
The torch is expected to arrive in the Capital from Islamabad late Wednesday night.
Tendulkar has also apparently been advised by his physio to rest his groin a couple of more days so that he could be ready for the IPL, starting Friday.
Kalmadi also said that invitation was extended to Rahul Gandhi but he was not in the country.
“We have not received any confirmation from him. He could not have participated because he is out of the country,” Kalmadi said.