The appointment of Bollywood actor Salman Khan as the Indian ambassador to the upcoming Rio Olympics has left legendary sprinter Milkha Singh upset.
85-year-old Milkha Singh who is popularly known as ‘The Flying Sikh’ told PTI:
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.
While many fellow actors from Bollywood and sportspersons have supported the decision, many others have shared Milkha Singh’s view.
A petition started by Col Ajit Kumar Menon on Change.org addressed to Prime Minister, Narendra Modi and Sarbananda Sonowal, Minister of Youth Affairs and Sports is demanding that a sport icon such as Milkha Singh be appointed as the ambassador to the Rio Olympics.
Film actor Salman Khan can hardly be identified with youth and sports. Given his questionable involvement in a hit and run accident and the infamous black buck case, his nomination by the Government of India does not inspire or justify naming him the Sports ambassador of India for the Rio Olympics. We petition the Sports Minister to nominate a deserving and enduring sports icon such as Milkha Singh as India’s sports ambassador to the Rio Olympics.Change.org Petition
Supporters of this petition have called this “the worst action taken by the Indian Olympic Association” and suggested names of other sport legends such as Leander Paes, PT Usha, Ajit Pal for the position of the ambassador.
The petition has already gathered 19,330 signatures and need 5670 more signatures.
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