The news that Bollywood actor Salman Khan was nominated as the goodwill ambassador for India’s Olympic team in the upcoming Rio games must have been ecstatic for fans of the Dabangg star. However, some of India’s sporting personalities including legend Milkha Singh, are upset over Salman’s appointment and have questioned how a sports personality can be overlooked for the position in favour of an entertainment personality.
Olympic wrestler Yogeshwar Dutt was quite angry at the superstar’s appointment and said this was not a place to promote films.
“Everybody has the right to promote movies in India, but Olympics is not a place to promote films,” he said. “Can anyone tell me what is the role of good will ambassador? Why are you fooling the public?” he said.
Sprint legend Milkha Singh, who is considered a sprint legend in India and even has a Bollywood biopic named after him, was also critical of the decision by the Indian Olympic Association (IOA).
“India has produced so many sports persons who have given their sweat and blood for the country,” he said. “I want to ask has Bollywood ever made any sportsperson an ambassador for any of their mega events?”
Meanwhile, former Captain of Indian Women Basketball Team was also not in favour of the decision to appoint Salman as goodwill ambassador.
Lol true..#RioOlympics2016 is a sports event and brand ambassador should be a sports person https://t.co/7TUzSipppO
— Divya Singh (@Divyasingh04) April 23, 2016
When india has its presence felt in olympics y limelight should be given to non sports person? Our Heros r@DuttYogi @NSaina @8_SardarSingh
— Divya Singh (@Divyasingh04) April 24, 2016
So far the Bollywood megastar has kept mum over all the hullabaloo surrounding his appointment. Will Salman fire some shots back at his detractors or will he choose to ignore them?
