Wrestler Yogeshwar Dutt and and former Indian sprinting legend Milkha Singh have both criticised the appointment of Bollywood actor Salman Khan as the Indian contingent's Goodwill Ambassador for the upcoming Olympic Games in Rio de Janiero.

Dutt had put out a series of tweets on Twitter on Saturday, dismissing Khan's appointment as a means to promote his upcoming film and asking for other Indian sporting legends like PT Usha and Milkha Singh to be appointed in that role instead.

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 — Yogeshwar Dutt (@DuttYogi) April 23, 2016

On Sunday, Singh also spoke out against the move. "I am of the view that our sportspersons; be those from shooting, athletics, volleyball or other sports, they are the real ambassadors of India who would represent the country in the Olympics. Still, if we had to pick an ambassador, it could have been from the sporting arena," said the 85-year old legend, reported the Times of India.

However, Indian Olympic Association Vice-President Tarlochan Singh defended the decision. Singh said, "When celebrities who appeal to the public come forward to help, naturally we get more publicity, which is good for sports".