After nationwide controversy and massive outrages by the athletes and the Olympians; both current and the former ones, over the appointment of the Bollywood superstar Salman Khan as the goodwill ambassador of the Indian contingents for the upcoming Rio Olympics, Indian Olympic Association (IOA) has appointed the ace shooter and the 2008 Beijing Olympics gold medalist for the same designation in order to save their face.
Apart from roping in Salman Khan and Abhinav Bindra as the goodwill ambassador for the Indian contingents, IOA has also approached former Indian cricketing legend Sachin Tendulkar and the Oscar-winning music director A R Rahman for the similar post too.
The 33-year old shooter who took part in the previous four Olympic game including Sydney, Athens, Beijing and London and also going to participate in the coming Rio Olympics too, has gleefully accepted IOA’s offer on Friday through a series of tweets. On his first tweet, Bindra said “Received a letter this afternoon from the president and secretary general of the IOA inviting me to be a good will ambassador.”
Received a letter this afternoon from the President and Secretary General of the IOA inviting me to be a goodwill ambassador. CONT.
— Abhinav Bindra (@Abhinav_Bindra) April 29, 2016
Later the marksman added, “I am humbled that they thought I am worthy enough for this honor. I respectfully accept this with gratitude.” Bindra also assured that he will try his best to offer help to the Indian contingents who are taking part in the upcoming mega event within his capacity and will also write letters to them personally encouraging them and telling them how it feels to see the tri-color waving from the podium.
I am humbled that they thought I am worthy enough for this honour. I respectfully accept this with gratitude. CONT .
— Abhinav Bindra (@Abhinav_Bindra) April 29, 2016
The first and only individual Olympic gold-medalist of the country pointed out, “I have lived my life for the OG & have always done my best to work for the betterment of the Olympic movement in India & I will continue.
I have lived my life for the OG &have always done my best to work for the betterment of the Olympic movement in India &I will continue CONT.
— Abhinav Bindra (@Abhinav_Bindra) April 29, 2016
“While my focus will be to perform at Rio, I will be writing to every member of the Indian Olympic team & offering them any help they may want.” said in his next tweet.
While my focus will be to perform at Rio,I will be writing to every member of the Indian Olympic team &offering them any help they may want
— Abhinav Bindra (@Abhinav_Bindra) April 29, 2016
Although Bindra would be busy in several off-field activities and promotions in the coming months, the star rifle shooter made it absolutely clear that it will not hamper his preparation and won’t shift his focus for the marquee event.
“Every Indian Olympian is a champion in his or her own right; I would just be sharing my experiences with them! I would be open to doing this until the 15th of July & after that my focus will completely be towards my own performance until my event,” Bindra tweeted.
Every Indian Olympian is a champion in his or her own right I would just be sharing my experiences with them! CONT
— Abhinav Bindra (@Abhinav_Bindra) April 29, 2016
I would be open to doing this until the 15 th of July &after that my focus will completely be towards my own performance until my event CONT
— Abhinav Bindra (@Abhinav_Bindra) April 29, 2016
In his last tweet, Bindra shared the offer letter he received from the IOA and also pledged every Indian to support the Indian contingents for the Rio Olympic, “Request every Indian citizen to whole heartedly support the INDIAN OLYMPIC TEAM #rio2016 #Indianolympicteam #indianolympiansarechampions.”
— Abhinav Bindra (@Abhinav_Bindra) April 29, 2016
Request every Indian citizen to whole heartedly support the INDIAN OLYMPIC TEAM #rio2016 #Indianolympicteam #indianolympiansarechampions
— Abhinav Bindra (@Abhinav_Bindra) April 29, 2016
