Bindra joins Salman as Rio Games ambassador

IOA also asks Tendulkar, Rahman to become brand ambassadors of Indian Olympic contingent.

'I will be writing to every member of the Indian Olympic team and offering them any help they may want.'

'Every Indian Olympian is a champion in his or her own right.'

Amid the row over Bollywood superstar Salman Khan's appointment as goodwill ambassador for India's Rio de Janeiro-bound Olympics contingent, the Indian Olympic Association has finally got its act together.

• Salman as India's Rio Olympics ambassador: Right or wrong?

Beijing Olympic gold medallist shooter Abhinav Bindra has accepted the IOA's offer of being a brand ambassador.

Bindra, who won India's first ever individual Olympic gold medal at the 2008 Games from the men's 10 metres air rifle event,  tweeted: "Received a letter this afternoon from the President and Secretary General of the IOA inviting me to be a goodwill ambassador. I am humbled that they thought I am worthy enough for this honour. I respectfully accept this with gratitude."

He continued: "I have lived my life for the Olympic Games and have always done my best to work for the betterment of the Olympic movement in India and I will continue. While my focus will be to perform at Rio, I will be writing to every member of the Indian Olympic team and offering them any help they may want.

"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 and after that my focus will completely be towards my own performance until my event," Bindra concluded.

The IOA has also written to legendary batsman Sachin Tendulkar and Oscar-winning music composer A R Rahman asking them to be goodwill ambassadors.

"We are in communication with Sachin Tendulkar and A R Rahman to become brand ambassadors of the Indian Olympic contingent. We are yet to get their reply," said IOA vice-president Tarlochan Singh.

"We will rope in more people. Salman Khan will also remain," he added.

Salman's appointment as India's goodwill ambassador for the upcoming Games was criticised by several Indian athletes, including wrestler Yogeshwar Dutt and track and field legend Milkha Singh.

"Everybody has the right to promote movies in India, but Olympics is not a place to promote films." Yogeshwar tweeted in Hindi.

"Can anyone tell me what the role of goodwill ambassador is? Why are you fooling the public?" he added.

Milkha, who won gold in the 400 metres at the 1958 and 1962 Asian Games, said the fact that no Indian sportsperson was selected as ambassador saddened him.