Tendulkar's pullout his own choice: Gill

Sachin pulled out of the Olympic torch relay after his IPL team physio advised him to skip the event to avoid aggravating a groin injury.

Sports Minister M S Gill on Wednesday declined to comment on Sachin Tendulkar's pullout from the Olympic torch relay in New Delhi on Thursday, saying the withdrawal was his own decision.

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"It's Sachin choice," Gill said when asked to react on the cricketer's pullout.

Tendulkar pulled out of the relay after his Indian Premier League (IPL) team, Mumbai Indians, physio A Ijaz advised him to skip the event to avoid aggravating a groin injury.

Gill, who created a stir by saying that only sportspersons should be allowed to run with the torch, said he stood by his comments.

"That was my personal opinion," he said.

Gill refused to divulge the names of those who would run the relay on Thursday.