Salman Khan was named the goodwill ambassador of the Indian contingent for the Rio 2016 Olympics on Saturday. His association 'might' attract more people of this country to watch the biggest sporting event of the world and also motivate the athletes to do well.
But, is Bhai the right choice?
This is some absolutely shady coincidence that his appointment as an ambassador precedes the release of Sultan, a sports based movie. The move seems to have divided opinions across the country. While some have welcomed the move, many athletes have questioned the appointment of the controversial actor.
This truly is something that needs to be raised and if something goes wrong, every citizen of this country has the right to object it. This selection is just incredulous since there is no dearth of sportspersons who could have been chosen to be the ambassador.
Let's look at 5 such deserving personalities who could have promoted the Olympics this time in our country:
5. Dhanraj Pillay
How obsessed are we with Bollywood that we appoint an actor who has nothing to do with sports, as a goodwill ambassador to represent hundreds of real athletes in the greatest global sports event.
And that too when we have respected sportspersons who actually brought laurels to the nation with their hard work.
Dhanraj Pillay is one of the living legends of Indian hockey. People in India and around the globe used to identify Indian hockey with Dhanraj. And why not?
He has represented the nation for 16 years and is the only Indian hockey star to have played in four Olympics, four World Cups, four Champion Trophies, and four Asian Games successively.
Dhanraj continues to be the most popular name in hockey and could have done a better job as an ambassador.
4. Milkha Singh
Orphaned during the partition of India, 'The Flying Sikh' came close to winning India's first athletics medal at the 1960 Rome Olympics when he finished fourth in the 400m.
Soon after, he cemented his place as a sporting legend in India. Not just that, his time of 45.73 became the national record and endured for almost 40 years.
Recently, Salim Khan slammed Milkha Singh over his comments on Salman's Khan appointment. While Salim Khan and his children are good at what they do, 'The Flying Sikh' is known courtesy his feat and not because of one morion picture Farhan Akhtar acted in.
Also read: An open letter to Salman Khan from an Indian Olympian
A major part of the Indian population comprise of the youth and more than half of them are interested in sports and they know who Milkha Singh is.
It would have been much better to honour Milkha Singh than appointing a person who made a mockery of the Indian judicial system and has no connection to the Olympics.
3. Rajyavardhan Singh Rathore
Rajyavardhan Singh Rathore is one of the biggest sports icons India has ever produced. He was India's shooting star in the 2004 Athens Olympics where he grabbed a silver medal.
Rathore served the Indian Army for 23 years and besides his Olympic silver medal, he set a new games record of 192 targets out of 200 at the 2002 Commonwealth Games which stands to this day.
He won gold at the Commonwealth Championship in 2002 and 2006 and in two World Shooting Championships, at Sydney and Cairo in 2004 and 2006 respectively.
While Salman commands million of fans, he remains marred in controversy on two of his biggest brushes with the law – killing protected deer in Jodhpur and a fatal hit-and-run in Mumbai.
Instead of Khan, appointing Rajyavardhan Rathore would have been a much better gesture. Isn't it?
2. PT Usha
India came closest to winning a medal in the 1992 Los Angeles Olympics when a bronze medal eluded PT Usha by 1/100th of a second.
Nicknamed 'Payyoli Express', she is the first Indian sportswoman to enter an Olympic final. Her "Usha School of Athletics" is still grooming young talents.
Then why not PT Usha as an ambassador but someone else is getting a free pass to promote hiss movie just because of his links in the selection committee.
What is the logic behind IOA appointing him? It is not that India hates him but an ambassador for Olympics should be someone like PT Usha who won medals and laurels for the country.
Is this what we are setting an example for the world?
1. Sachin Tendulkar
Why did the Indian Olympic Association not choose Sachin Tendulkar, a man with even more fan following and recognition than the superstar?
Salman may not be at fault, but how can he represent the athletes when there are so many sportspersons in the country who have gotten so many medals.
Also read: Yogeshwar Dutt miffed over Salman Khan ambassador appointment
While Bollywood has it’s place in popular Indian culture, taking a star from that field and bestowing them with such honour certainly takes it a step too far. The people of the country are aware of the Olympics, thanks to the efforts of the real athletes.
Using an actor to promote Rio 2016 Olympics is itself an insult to the Olympic movement in India.
This is plain sad. Bollywood cannot be everything in India.
