Not everyone happy about Salman’s selection as Olympic ambassador

Indian athletics legend Milkha Singh and Bollywood veteran Salim Khan, whose son Salman was announced as the goodwill ambassador of the Indian contingent for the upcoming summer Olympics in Rio de Janeiro in August are in the middle of a war of words, reports Indian Express.

Salman’s selection was criticised by several members of the Indian sports fraternity, including Milkha Singh and 2012 London Olympics wrestling bronze medallist Yogeshwar Dutt.

Salim Khan responded to the criticism by reminding Milkha Singh that it was films that revived his legacy in the Indian consciousness:

Salim was referring to Farhan Akhtar-starring biopic on Milkha Singh,Bhaag Milkha Bhaag, which was a huge hit in 2013.

In true parental fashion, he also informed Twitter about Salman’s sports accomplishments, he tweets, “Salman khan may not have competed but is an A level swimmer cyclist and weight lifter.”

Milkha Singh, on the other hand, has responded to Salim Khan’s comments by saying that the movie industry hasn’t done any favour by making a film on him.

“If they have any function, will they put any sportsmen as their chairman or ambassador? I gave my story for Re.1 and it is not a little thing. The movie made crores,” he further adds.

“If Salman Khan’s father is saying that Milkha Singh has said anything wrong, and then I don’t agree to it, because the entire nation is saying that I am right and they are with me,” Singh was quoted as saying by Times Now News Channel.

He reiterated that actors need not be ambassadors of athletic or sports contingents:

“The IOA should have thought of what’s the need of the ambassador. I’m saying that the team who all are going whether it is shooting, wrestling, boxing or athletics, they all are our ambassadors. Out of 120 crore people in India, they have been our ambassador then what is the need of any other ambassador?

“It doesn’t make sense to appoint someone in this role. If an ambassador is required, we have many great sportspersons, like Sachin Tendulkar, P.T. Usha, Ajitpal Singh, Rajyavardhan Singh Rathore,” he added.