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| By Headlines Bureau |
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Monday, August 11, 2008 (16:14:45) |
| Tags : Abhinav Bindra, Beijing Olympics, Shooting, India, Gold medal |
'Abhinav Bindra has realised the dream of a billion people' |
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New Delhi: A country which for many years has been deprived of a gold medal, also a country where more than 40 per cent of the Indian population had never seen a golden moment in Olympics till now, were today elated. It was in 1980, Moscow Olympics where the Indian Men's Hockey team clinched gold. Since then, the country was longing for a medal and today India found a new sporting icon in a baby-face marksman as Abhinav Bindra who shot his way to history, winning India's first ever individual Olympic gold medal in the 10m Air Rifle event today. Congratulation came from all quarters ranging from a lay man, cricketers to top Indian leaders including the President of India, for making the country proud.
The President of India in her congratulatory message to Bindra said, ? I am extremely delighted and proud to hear today that you have realised the dream of a billion of our people, by winning the Olympic Gold Medal in the 10-Metre Air Rifle Event in Beijing. Your achievement is even greater as not only has India won a Gold Medal at the Olympic Games after a very long gap of 28 years, but also because you have become the first ever Indian to win a Gold Medal at the Olympics in an individual event.
India's Sports Minister M S Gill and Indian Olympic Association (IOA) chief Suresh Kalmadi joined many others in lauding Abhinav Bindra's achievement, after the 24-year-old shooter bagged India's first individual gold in the Olympics. Gill saw it as a breakthrough achievement for Indian sport.
"It's a huge incentive for us to further go up the ladder in sports. "We have done well in shooting earlier. We have had world champions. But the Olympics gold is always special. I congratulate Bindra," Gill said.
Kalmadi said it was a great day in the country's history. "We are proud of his achievement."
National Rifle Association of India president Digvijay Singh said, "I still can't believe that we have again got a place on the top podium. "The way the shooters have been bringing laurels for the country, this discipline is becoming the number one sport in India. Bindra's golden showing will give it a boost."
National shooting coach Sunny Thomas praised Bindra for his devotion to the sport as well as his determination.
"We're all very happy. He is very hardworking. The entire shooting contingent is celebrating. We are very proud of him and it is just the beginning," said Thomas, as the Indian officials hugged one another at the shooting range in celebration.
Praising Bindra, Thomas said the shooter has always been known for his composure. "Abhinav is a very calm and composed guy and doesn't get very excited," he said.
(with inputs from IANS and PTI) |
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