New Delhi: Not many imagined that Salman Khan's appointment as the Indian contingent's Goodwill Ambassador for the upcoming Rio Games would have led to such a huge controversy.
It all started when Olympian Yogeshwar Dutt criticized the IOA's choice, questioning the Bollywood superstar's contribution to Indian sport.
Sprint legend Milkha Singh too endorsed the wrestler's views on the issue, stating that an athlete should have been appointed instead of Salman.
Just as the dust appeared to have settled on this debate, Salman's father Salim attacked Milkha Singh on social micro-blogging site Twitter.
The veteran scriptwriter stated that the former Olympian would have faded into oblivion had the Indian film industry not made a biopic on his life and times.
Here are some of the reactions of the country's most famous sports personalities on this ongoing debate:
Yogeshwar Dutt: PT Usha,Milkha Singh jaise bade sports star hai jinhone kathin samay me desh ke liye mehnat ki. Khel ke kshetra me Es ambassador ne Kya kiya.
Milkha Singh: IOA has taken wrong decision. We don't need any ambassador. Sportsmen representing nation in Rio Olympics 2016 are our ambassadors. IOA shouldn't have made a Bollywood person ambassador for sports event. Will they make a sports person an ambassador for Bollywood function? Govt must intervene. IOA must reconsider its decision. If at all there is a need to send an ambassador, I think P. T. Usha, Rajvardhan Singh Rathore, Ajit Pal can be better choices.
Gautam Gambhir: I would have been happy if someone like Abhinav Bindra would have been named as an ambassador. There are a lot of sportspersons who have done a lot for sport. Ideally, one among them should have been given that responsibility. Sportspersons do not need publicity, they do the job for the country. His (appointment) does not give real excitement to a sportsperson.
Abhinav Bindra: Dear @BeingSalmanKhan, am sure you will use your tremendous goodwill to help Indian Olympic Sport and Olympic athletes in their pursuit towards excellence. Congratulations on being appointed ambassador of the Indian Olympic Team. An absolute honour which comes with great responsibility.
Vijender Singh: I support decision of IOA 2 appoint @BeingSalmanKhan as ambassador of Indian contingent for Olympics he is connected wid d masses of country
Sunil Gavaskar: Well you tell me a sportsperson who is well known than Salman Khan all over the country or may be outside the country. I don’t think so. May be just a couple of them. Olympics sports are played in a lot of countries where the Indian sports personalities may not be well known at all but Indian films reach all over the world.
Virat Kohli: That’s not for me to comment on when I don’t know the details. It won’t be proper for me to comment on this platform
