Shooter Bindra makes history for India
Tuesday, 12 August 2008
BEIJING, Aug 11: Monday is a big day for India, when shooter Bindra nailed down the gold medal in the men's 10-metre air rifle at the Beijing Olympics.
For India, it was the first Olympic individual gold.
Throughout its history, India just won only one gold medal, which was from men's hockey at the Moscow Olympics 28 years ago.
"It was fantastic, a historic moment," said the 26-year-old.
Bindrea was ranked third with 596 points after the qualification round where Henri Hakkinen of Finland, with 598, and defending champion Zhu Qinan of China, with 597, ranked first and second respectively.
Gold medalist in the 2006 Zagreb World Championships, Bindra pulled up his slacks from the beginning of the final, impressing spectators with a 10.7 in the first shot.
With all his shots above 10 point, the gentleman-looking Indian progressed steadily and surpassed his Finnish rival after the seventh shot.
Although he scored a 10.0 at the eighth shot, he made up for the lapse and finished with a 10.8, grabbing the gold before ending of the competition.
After the difficult contest, Bindra said he didn't expect to make history.
"I was not thinking too much. I just tried to shoot well," he said
Son of a successful businessman, Bindra started practising shooting at the age of 15.
He said it was because he "liked the idea of fame".
His father's financial status provided him with the best competition and training equipment available.
"I have an air-conditioned shooting range with a totally computerised Target Transportation System of international standards," he said. "I am also equipped with around seven guns, ammunition, jackets and other shooting paraphernalia."
Although he said "shooting is 99 per cent luck and one per cent training", the quiet man was diligent in training and did seven hours of shooting and two hours of stretching and jogging.
For India, it was the first Olympic individual gold.
Throughout its history, India just won only one gold medal, which was from men's hockey at the Moscow Olympics 28 years ago.
"It was fantastic, a historic moment," said the 26-year-old.
Bindrea was ranked third with 596 points after the qualification round where Henri Hakkinen of Finland, with 598, and defending champion Zhu Qinan of China, with 597, ranked first and second respectively.
Gold medalist in the 2006 Zagreb World Championships, Bindra pulled up his slacks from the beginning of the final, impressing spectators with a 10.7 in the first shot.
With all his shots above 10 point, the gentleman-looking Indian progressed steadily and surpassed his Finnish rival after the seventh shot.
Although he scored a 10.0 at the eighth shot, he made up for the lapse and finished with a 10.8, grabbing the gold before ending of the competition.
After the difficult contest, Bindra said he didn't expect to make history.
"I was not thinking too much. I just tried to shoot well," he said
Son of a successful businessman, Bindra started practising shooting at the age of 15.
He said it was because he "liked the idea of fame".
His father's financial status provided him with the best competition and training equipment available.
"I have an air-conditioned shooting range with a totally computerised Target Transportation System of international standards," he said. "I am also equipped with around seven guns, ammunition, jackets and other shooting paraphernalia."
Although he said "shooting is 99 per cent luck and one per cent training", the quiet man was diligent in training and did seven hours of shooting and two hours of stretching and jogging.