Indian iconic athletics Milkha Singh hit back at Bollywood superstar Salman Khan’s father Salim Khan by saying that the movie industry hasn’t done any favor by making a film on him on Tuesday.
Earlier, Salim Khan has tried to defend his son’s appointment as the goodwill ambassador of the Indian contingent for the Rio Olympic Games.
Rio Olympics Ambassador Controversy
However, the move to appoint Salman was questioned by several Indian sportsmen, including Milkha and 2012 London Olympics wrestling bronze medallist Yogeshwar Dutt.
In his efforts to defend his son, Salim tweeted on Monday: “Milkhaji it is not Bollywood it is the Indian Film Industry and that too the largest in the world. The same industry which resurrected you from fading away in oblivion.”
Salim referred to the popularity of the iconic Athletics Milkha Singh achieved after the release of a biopic on him named “Bhaag Milkha Bhaag”.
In reply to this, Milkha repeated the comments he had made two days ago.
“Let him (Salim) have his views. I don’t have anything to say regarding this. I have already put in my views. All the members of the Olympic contingent are our ambassadors,” the multiple Asian champion was quoted as saying to the media houses.
“It doesn’t make sense to appoint someone in this role. If an ambassador is required, we have many great sportspersons, like Sachin Tendulkar, P.T. Usha, Ajitpal Singh, Rajyavardhan Singh Rathore,” he added.
Milkha, who finished fourth in the 400 metres sprint at the 1960 Olympics, continued: “It’s okay they have made a film on me. I don’t think that the movie industry has made a favour to me by making a film on my life.”
“If they have any function, will they put any sportsmen as their chairman or ambassador? I gave my story for Re.1 and it is not a little thing. The movie made crores.
“If Salman Khan’s father is saying that Milkha Singh has said anything wrong, then I don’t agree to it, because the entire nation is saying that I am right and they are with me.”
According to Milkha Singh; there is no need of IOA ambassador. He further said: I’m saying that the team who all are going whether it is shooting, wrestling, boxing or athletics, they all are our ambassadors. Out of 120 crore people in India, they have been our ambassador then what is the need of any other ambassador?”
Meanwhile, celebrities like actress-politician Kirron Kher and filmmaker Sooraj Barjatya have defended the IOA’s decision to appoint Salman as the face of India at Rio Olympics.
“It is a very good decision. I am very proud of Salman Khan. All people who are trying to say that only a sportsman should be appointed as an ambassador, I would like to differ from them,” Kirron said at the Dadasaheb Phalke Excellence Awards event here.
