Bhaichung Bhutia, Saina Nehwal Back IOA Decision on Salman Khan
Salman Khan was recently named the Indian contingent's goodwill ambassador for the 2016 Rio de Janeiro Olympics that will be held from August 5 to 21. Bhaichung Bhutia and Saina Nehwal have supported the move.
Highlights
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Salman was named India's goodwill ambassador to the Olympics
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Bhaichung is a former India football captain
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Saina Nehwal is India's first badminton player to win Olympic medal
Former Indian football captain Bhaichung Bhutia on Wednesday backed Indian Olympic Association's decision to make Salman Khan the goodwill ambassador for the Indian contingent for Rio Olympics and said there's nothing wrong in Bollywood actors promoting sport. Olympic medallist Saina Nehwal has also backed the move.
"You all know where will be the spotlight if (only Indian Olympic individual gold medalist) Abhinav Bindra stands beside Salman! That's the sad reality in India. Bollywood sells in India. Sport needs Bollywood and I don't see anything wrong in it if he promotes sport for the country at Rio," Bhutia said at Calcutta Sports Journalists' Club's Annual Awards in Kolkata.
"Salman did not go on his own and approached IOA to make him the ambassador. We have seen in IPL and ISL how the involvement of Bollywood has helped," he added.
Badminton ace Saina has also supported the move to make Salman India's goodwill ambassador.
Perfect brand ambassador of Indian contingent for Rio Olympics .Good to see him encouraging sports @BeingSalmanKhan pic.twitter.com/OjrXjnaIhB
- Saina Nehwal (@NSaina) April 27, 2016