Abhinav Bindra Joins Salman Khan as Rio Olympics Ambassador
Abhinav Bindra, who won a shooting gold in the 2008 Beijing Olympics, has joined Bollywood superstar Salman Khan to become a goodwill ambassador for the 2016 Rio Olympics
Highlights
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Abhinav Bindra is India's lone individual Olympics gold medallist
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Salman Khan was earlier appointed ambassador, but it created controversy
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Sachin Tendulkar, AR Rahman also approached for the post.
Abhinav Bindra, India's lone individual Olympics gold medallist, has agreed to become 2016 Rio Olympics goodwill ambassador. Sachin Tendulkar and AR Rahman have also been approached for the post.
This comes after superstar Salman Khan's appointment as goodwill ambassador created furore, with top athletes like Milkha Singh and Yogeshwar Dutt criticising the move. Tendulkar and Rahman are yet to respond to IOA.
"Received a letter this afternoon from the president and secretary general of the IOA inviting me to be a goodwill ambassador. I am humbled that they thought I am worthy enough for this honour," Bindra said in a statement.
"I respectfully accept this with gratitude. I have lived my life for the Olympic Games and have always done my best to work for the betterment of the Olympic movement in India and I will continue. While my focus will be to perform at Rio, I will be writing to every member of the Indian Olympic team and offering them any help they may want."
The IOA is awaiting reply from Tendulkar and Rahman. "We are in communication with Sachin Tendulkar and AR Rahman to become brand ambassadors of the Indian Olympic contingent. We are yet to get their reply," said Indian Olympic Association (IOA) vice president Tarlochan Singh.
"We will rope in more people. Salman Khan will also remain," he added.
(With inputs from Suprita Das and PTI)