Amid Uproar, Olympic Association Firm on Salman as Rio Ambassador

Salman Khan’s appointment as the Indian Olympic contingent’s goodwill ambassador to Rio has kicked up a storm.
The Quint
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Bollywood actor Salman Khan with boxer MC Mary Kom and hockey captain Sardar Singh during a function where the actor was announced as Goodwill Ambassador of Indian contingent for Rio Olympics 2016, in New Delhi on Saturday. (Photo: PTI)  
Bollywood actor Salman Khan with boxer MC Mary Kom and hockey captain Sardar Singh during a function where the actor was announced as Goodwill Ambassador of Indian contingent for Rio Olympics 2016, in New Delhi on Saturday. (Photo: PTI)   
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Bollywood superstar Salman Khan’s appointment as the goodwill ambassador of the Indian Olympic contingent on Monday triggered a furore with star wrestler Yogeshwar Dutt and sprint legend Milkha Singh questioning the move even as IOA and some other athletes backed the decision.

Salman, who is playing the role of a wrestler in his upcoming film ‘Sultan’, was named goodwill ambassador by the Indian Olympic Association (IOA) on Saturday in the presence of star woman boxer MC Mary Kom, hockey captain Sardar Singh, and shooter Apurvi Chandela among others.

The position itself is unprecedented and IOA’s decision to pick Salman for it left the sporting fraternity divided with London Olympics bronze-medallist Yogeshwar and the legendary Milkha Singh leading the criticism.

The IOA, however, backed the decision to name Salman.

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Published: 25 Apr 2016,02:33 PM IST

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