A day out with Sachin Tendulkar

Hyderabad: An eight-year-old city student Mohammed Wajid Ali has managed to accomplish something that not even boys twice his age can boast of, and that is the privilege of getting to play cricket with none other than Sachin Tendulkar.

The Class III student of Diamond Jubilee School in Tolic-howki, he was the one of lucky winners selected from over 6,000 entries at a scholarship contest by Aviva Life Insurance.

Besides scholarship prize of ' 25,000, Wajid and 19 other students from across the country were given the once-in a-lifetime opportunity to play with the Master Blaster. As part of the selection process, students between the ages of 3 to 12 years were picked out based on their answers to the question 'What's Your Big Plan?'.

Wajid's doting father Sajid accompanied him to Mumbai for the big event, which took place on November 28 and 29.

“We found out about Wajid's selection at the end of September and we were all ecstatic. Not many people get to meet Sachin Tendulkar, so it was a golden moment in our lives.

There was a felicitation ceremony first and then the children got to play with the legendary cricketer,“ shares Sajid, who works as a computer operator. Wajid, who actively participates in sportsrelated activities at school, chips in, “Sachin gave us tips on how to play, how to hold the bat etc. All of us had a very good time. Even my friends and teachers are very proud of me.“

Interestingly, Sajid's older sister had also applied for the competition, but she didn't make it to the finals. Never-theless, the family is proud of both the children. So what does the eight-year old want to become when he grows up?

“Wajid wants to become a doctor when he grows up. I will do my best to encourage and support him,“ says his father.