Rio Olympics: Salman Khan appointed Goodwill Ambassador; how Yogeshwar Dutt, Milkha Singh reacted

New Delhi, April 25: After Bollywood actor Salman Khan was unveiled as Goodwill Ambassador of the Indian contingent for Rio Olympics 2016, many are disappointed.

Besides a few, majority have shown disappointment over the same and said that a sportsperson should have been appointed for the same.

Indian wrestling star

hit out at at the appointment of Salman Khan as Goodwill Ambassador of the Indian contingent for Rio Olympics 2016 and also questioning Khan's contribution to sports in India.

Dutt tweeted and said that legendary athletes like PT Usha and Milkha Singh would have been better choices for this.

Yogeshwar, who has already qualified for the Rio Games and will represent the country in the 65 kg category.

Legendary sprinter Milkha Singh also reacted on the same and said that it would have been better to pick a sportsperson in his place.

"I am of the view that our sportspersons; be those from shooting, athletics, volleyball or other sports, they are the real ambassadors of India who would represent the country in the Olympics. Still, if we had to pick an ambassador, it could have been from the sporting arena," the 85-year-old legend said.

"India has produced so many sportspersons who have given their sweat and blood for the country like PT Usha, Rajyavardhan Singh Rathore, Ajit Pal and so many others. One of these could have been made a goodwill ambassador. What was the need to import a person from Bollywood?" he asked.

Milkha, who won gold in 1958 and 1962 Asian Games, said the fact that no Indian sportsperson had been picked up as ambassador saddened him.

"I want to make it clear that I am not against Salman Khan, but the decision of the IOA is wrong and the Government should intervene in the matter. This is for the first time I am seeing a Bollywood hero being made goodwill ambassador for Olympics. I want to ask has Bollywood ever made any sportsperson an ambassador for any of their mega event?" he said.

"I want that the decision to name Salman Khan as ambassador should be revised," he said.

Salman was made Goodwill Ambassador of the Indian contingent for Rio Olympics 2016 in presence of star athletes such as boxer MC Mary Kom, hockey captain Sardar Singh and shooter Apurvi Chandela, among others.

OneIndia News

(With inputs from agencies)