A war is raging on Twitter over Salman Khan’s appointment as the goodwill ambassador for 2016 Rio Olympics

From the moment Bollywood actor Salman Khan was announced as the goodwill ambassador of India's contingent for the 2016 Rio Olympics, Twitter was divided into two factions: Salman vs sports.

The Indian Olympic Association (IOA), which invited brick-bats over its decision to appoint Salman, clarified that Salman was the biggest Bollywood star in the country and the key objective of bringing him on board was to draw maximum attention from the masses and popularizing Olympic sports in the country.

However, sports enthusiasts voiced out their dissent over ignoring and not appointing legendary sportspersons as ambassadors and mocked Salman and IOA on Twitter.

The news did not go well even with the sporting personalities such as wrestler Yogeshwar Dutt and Milkha Singh.

Dutt, who has qualified to represent India at the Olympics that will start in August, took to Twitter to voice his opinion, which was supported by sports lovers and denounced by Salman fans.

Ambassador का क्या काम होता है कोई मुझे बता सकता है क्या. क्यूँ पागल बना रहे हो देश कि जनता को.😡 https://t.co/vtjb0XWdP8

— Yogeshwar Dutt (@DuttYogi) April 23, 2016

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

Salman’s fans, on the other hand, fought tooth and nail to prove their point why the actor was the best choice.

Now, both the factions are fighting with each other. Here’s what is happening on Twitter

Salman’s qualifications as India’s Goodwill Ambassador for the Olympics #HitsAndRuns #ChampionShooterAlso #ArreSpoof pic.twitter.com/sqefaUdIWE

— Arré (@ArreTweets) April 25, 2016

#Sultan - India's only Sportsperson with reeeeeeeal talent! #SalmanOlympics pic.twitter.com/iQLTAWPq4p

— chagas ferdinando (@havesomechips) April 25, 2016

Salman can hit, run and shoot. what else do you need from a sports ambassador ;). #SalmanOlympics

— Devanshu (@devanshu09) April 25, 2016

Juggling the belt will now be the official sport of India. #SalmanForRio

— Kartik Sadvij (@Funny_Sandvij) April 25, 2016

"Sultan", I mean Salman is just going as a "Bodyguard" . So guys Just chill, chill, just chill #SalmanForRio

— sunshineG (@itsjustgayatri) April 25, 2016

Salman khan to be brand ambassador in the Olympics , thumbs up, taste the blunder .#SalmanForRio #SalmanKhan #thumbsup

— Krishna subramanian (@brainsecretions) April 24, 2016

#SalmanForRio @BeingSalmanKhan kite flying isn't Olympic sport buddy but enough to lead Indian Olympic team. Kill it pic.twitter.com/OVgPfc1XfB

— Mohan Polamar (@mopolymer) April 24, 2016

#SalmanForRio
good decision to choose him as an ambassador for 2016 Roi Oly. His popularity definitely help to promote sports in India.

— Samir Samaddar (@SamaddarSamir) April 24, 2016

@BeingSalmanKhan is the most popular star today and so good for #SalmanForRio go for it & why create a story for media?

— Prakash Gaba (@PrakashGaba) April 25, 2016

Its d Bollywood stars who accentuate the life of less known sportsmen by filming their biographies.Cheers to #SalmanForRio @BeingSalmanKhan

— Radhika Oberoi Mehta (@Radhika2032) April 25, 2016

@PramodSpeaks we love you Salman khan till our last breath, #SalmanForRio

— HaPpiNeSs Is SaLmAn (@BeingAman93) April 25, 2016

Have a wrestling match between Salman and Yogeshwar to decide who becomes Olympic ambassador @BeingSalmanKhan @DuttYogi #SalmanForRio

— Gaurav Sood (@gauravkaransood) April 25, 2016