Calcutta: Sachin Tendulkar on Tuesday accepted Indian Olympic Association (IOA)'s invitation to become the country's goodwill ambassador for the Rio Olympics alongside Abhinav Bindra, India's only individual gold medallist in the Olympics, and Bollywood star Salman Khan.

"Sachin Tendulkar has accepted our request to become goodwill ambassador of Indian contingent at the Olympics. We have received the official communication from him accepting our request. We are very happy to have an iconic sportsperson like Mr Tendulkar on board as goodwill ambassador," IOA secretary general Rajiv Mehta said in New Delhi.

Sachin wrote a letter to IOA president N. Ramachandran and Mehta, confirming his support for the Rio-bound athletes. He also expressed willingness to meet the Indian contingent before their departure for the Olympics.

"It will be my pleasure and an honour to meet these world-class athletes before they leave for Rio to learn their experience and preparations. I am also happy to be part of any awareness campaign that can rally the country around our athletes and motivate them, including amplifying their efforts and success on my Twitter and Facebook accounts," Tendulkar wrote.

"I have had the privilege and honour of representing our nation for 24 years and I continue to bat for India off the field,"