Don’t be surprised if the next time you go to a new pizza place in your town and bump into Olympic gold-medallist shooter Abhinav Bindra. Having cornered glory at the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games, Bindra is set to serve his countrymen an Italian delight. The shooter has joined hands with New York-based Vito’s Pizzas to launch a fast-food chain across the country serving stromboli and calzones, gourmet salads, Italian sandwiches, pasta and other favourite Italian delicacies. To expand its base in India, the company has tied up with the champion shooter and formed a joint venture company called Pizza Vito Holding Private Limited.

“I am happy to be associated with the world-famous chain of pizzas. We will have a team of professionals looking after the venture,” said Bindra.

The company will initially target four cities — Gurgaon, New Delhi, Mumbai and Ludhiana.

So, will the new venture take the ace shooter’s maximum time and energy?

"It's not that my priorities (for shooting) will change. I will devote whatever time is required for the sport," said Bindra, who is preparing for the nationals next month.

"Shooting is my passion and this venture my profession. Being a sportsperson, I know how to balance the two."