Go karting for Sachin, no karting for Arjun

<div class="section1"><div class="Normal"><script language="javascript">doweshowbellyad=0; </script><br />MUMBAI: Bachke tu rehna re bachke to rehna...Khalaas. Yes, that''s the hit item number from <span style="" font-style:="" italic="">Company</span>. Yes, it was blaring out of speakers the size of African elephants during the MRF Formule Mondiale Go Karting Championships round one at Acres Club, Chembur, on Sunday.But it was also the sentiment expressed by dozens of mediamen and fans as the wait for Sachin Tendulkar, who inaugurated the event, ended. <br /></div> <div align="left" style="position:relative; left: -2"><table cellspacing="0" cellpadding="2" align="left" border="1" width="28.2%"> <colgroup> <col width="100.0%" /> </colgroup> <tr valign="top"> <td width="100.0%" colspan="1" rowspan="1" style="" valign:="" top="" background-color:="" f3f3f3=""> <div class="Normal"><img src="/photo/512601.cms" alt="/photo/512601.cms" border="0" /></div> </td> </tr> <tr valign="top"> <td width="100.0%" colspan="1" rowspan="1" style="" valign:="" top="" background-color:="" f3f3f3=""> <div class="Normal"><span style="" font-size:="">Sachin Tendulkar holds his four-year-old son Arjun during a go karting event in Mumbai on Sunday. (Reuters photo)</span></div> </td> </tr> </table></div> <div class="Normal"><span style="" font-size:="" font-weight:="" bold="">In red racing gear, Tendulkar strode in with four-year old son Arjun. Also accompanying him was a huge smile. If he was concerned over the impending trip to Pakistan, he didn''t show it. What he showed was his love for driving. So what if he nicked a few in Australia. Sunday, Sachin decided, was going to be funday. </span><br /><br /><span style="" font-size:="" font-weight:="" bold="">He burned some serious rubber before the main races began and the crowd chanted `Sachin, Sachin!'' till hoarse. Tendulkar even did an extra lap. Public demand, you see. </span><br /><br /><span style="" font-size:="" font-weight:="" bold="">And while papa Sachin was doing his stuff, little Arjun was confused and irked by the flashlights, the loud music and the screaming hordes. Journalists waiting for a soundbyte from Tendulkar, especially one on the Pakistan tour, had to return disappointed. The superstar from Bandra said he had instructions from the Board and the home ministry to not speak on the Pakistan tour. </span><br /><br /><span style="" font-size:="" font-weight:="" bold="">But there was another reason why he gave media the miss: Arjun. When asked by a photographer of this newspaper if he would be sparing some time for the press, Tendulkar said: ``Aaz nahi re, porga vaitaaglaaye. (Not today, my son is irritated).'' Arjun doesn''t seem to have inherited his father''s passion for driving. But we hope he has the same love for cricket. </span><br /><br /><span style="" font-size:="" font-weight:="" bold="">MUMBAI: The cricket batting whiz Sachin Tendulkar on Sunday inaugurated the MRF go-karting races but refused to speak to the media.</span><br /><br /><span style="" font-size:="" font-weight:="" bold="">The Indian star drove two laps of the go-karting course at the Acers Club in suburban Chembur before cutting the red ribbon to officially inaugurate the event and then posed for photographers. He was accompanied by his young son Arjun.</span><br /><br /><span style="" font-size:="" font-weight:="" bold="">During prize distribution ceremony when the reporters requested MRF General Manager (Marketing) Anthony Rodrigues to fix up a meeting with Tendulkar, they were informed that the maestro was not interested in speaking to the press.</span><br /><br /><span style="" font-size:="" font-weight:="" bold="">"He (Tendulkar) did not even want to come and inaugurate the meet but after repeated requests he agreed and also made it clear that he will not be speaking to the media on any topic", Rodrigues added.</span><br /><br /><span style="" font-size:="" font-weight:="" bold="">However, go-karting officials said Tendulkar did not want to speak to the press after home ministry and the Indian Cricket Board (BCCI) had asked him to do so but failed to give proper reason for not speaking to the press. </span></div> </div>