AR Rahman named India's fourth Rio Olympics brand ambassador

Oscar winning composer A.R Rahman on Thursday accepted Indian Olympic Association's invitation to be one of the goodwill ambassadors for the Indian contingent in the forthcoming Rio Olympics.

Rahman would now join legendary Indian cricketer Sachin Tendulkar, Bollywood actor Salman Khan and ace Indian shooter Abhinav Bindra to become the fourth goodwill ambassador.

Jubilant with the offer, the musical maestro said that he felt honoured and pleased to be a goodwill ambassador of the Rio Games.

Welcoming Rahman as the goodwill ambassador of Indian contingent, Rajeev Mehta, Secretary General IOA said, "I would like to welcome AR Rahman on board as a goodwill ambassador of Indian contingent for Rio Olympics. It's our privilege to have the Oscar winning living legend-music composer on board to spread awareness and promote the Olympic movement. As per our plan to reach out to maximum people in the country for Olympic Sports, we are happy that Rahman has come forward from the field of music to support our athletes and we already have Salman Khan from Bollywood, Abhinav Bindra from Olympic Sports and Sachin Tendulkar from Cricket. I am sure Rahman will inspire our sportspersons."

The IOA's decision to rope in personalities from different fields as one of the goodwill ambassadors came after Bollywood actor Salman Khan's appointment left the sporting fraternity divided, with London Olympics bronze-medallist Yogeshwar Dutt and legendary sprinter Milkha Singh questioning the move.