Rio Olympics: Milkha Singh Miffed At Salman Khan’s Ambassadorship

The ‘Flying Sikh’ asked when Bollywood had ever fielded a sports star as an ambassador for any of their events.

Salman Khan in a still from Sultan. (Photo Courtesy: Twitter/@Sultan)

Upset with the appointment of Salman Khan as the goodwill ambassador of India’s Olympic contingent, legendary sprinter Milkha Singh said it would have been better to pick a sportsperson in his place.

The ‘Flying Sikh’ also demanded that the unprecedented appointment in the run-up to the quadrennial extravaganza should be “revised”.

But he made it clear that he had nothing personal against Salman.

“I am of the view that our sportspersons – be those from shooting, athletics, volleyball or other sports – 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 told PTI.

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?

Milkha Singh

(Left to right) Film director, Rakeysh Omprakash Mehra and Milkha Singh. (Photo: Altered by The Quint)

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 events?” he said.

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

Though it should be noted that the announcement regarding Salman was made in Delhi on Saturday, in the presence of star athletes such as boxer MC Mary Kom, hockey captain, Sardar Singh, and shooter, Apurvi Chandela, among others.

All of them had backed the appointment.