Gautam Gambhir Backs Abhinav Bindra For Rio Olympic Ambassador Over Salman Khan

He has played his cricket aggressively and is known to speak his heart out. So when Gautam Gambhir was asked if it was right for the Indian Olympic Association (IOA) to name Salman Khan as the Indian Olympic contingent's Goodwill Ambassador, while he didn't name the superstar, the Kolkata Knight Riders skipper said: "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.

Read More: Yogeshwar Dutt Unhappy Over Salman's Appointment

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"Sportspersons do not need publicity, they do the job for the country. This does not give real excitement to a sportsperson," the 34-year-old added.

"I think a sportsperson should have been a much preferred choice. As he (Bindra) is the first guy who has won a gold medal at the Olympics. He would have been the ideal choice. I have heard someone saying that sportsmen need publicity and sportspersons need Bollywood -my take is completely different," said Gambhir.

Read More: Here's Dhanraj Pillay And Milkha Singh's Reaction To Salman's Appointment

GAVASKAR SUPPORTS MOVE

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Salman's appointment as ambassador has evoked mixed responses. Former India captain Sunil Gavaskar said there was nothing wrong with IOA appointing the star and cited the example of how IPL "benefited" through its association with Bollywood stars. "Why not a known face who is not really a part of that particular profession. If he can bring a lot more awareness to that particular profession then why not? I don't see anything wrong in it," Gavaskar told a news channel.

SALIM KHAN SPEAKS OUT

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Salman's father Salim Khan too backed his son. "Salman Khan may not have competed but is an A level swimmer, cyclist and weightlifter. Sportsmen are performing because of sports lovers like us," Salim wrote.