Mumbai (Maharashtra), Aug. 25 -- : Former Indian cricketer Sachin Tendulkar on Sunday said that the country is slowly transforming itself from a sports-loving nation to a sports playing nation.

Tendulkar also advocated a healthy lifestyle with a focus on the right diet.

"I believe that everyone should live a healthy lifestyle. It is important to focus on your diet, it is essential for a common man to think about eating habits. From a sports-loving nation, we are slowly transforming ourselves into a sports playing nation," Tendulkar said after flagging off a marathon in Mumbai.

The Master Blaster also briefed about the marathon and said fitness plays an important role in everyone's lives.

"Almost 20,000 runners have participated in this...