RIO DE JANEIRO: The gun has fallen silent. Abhinav Bindra, who won India’s first individual gold at the Beijing Olympics and came within a whisker of ending the wait for a medal here, will put away his weapon for good.
Bindra had the calmness that comes with finality, as he made it clear after losing the bronze medal shoot-off in the 10m air rifle final on Monday that he was done with the sport. Five Olympics and three finals are remarkable achievements, but a second medal was not to be. “It’s my job to be composed. I don’t want to break down in front of you. I knew this was coming, and I am at peace with it,” he said after his event.
He didn’t want to leave any lingering doubts that he may change his mind. “I am done. I have announced my retirement, so there is no reconsideration. I am not going to shoot again. This is it. I support youngsters already. I support 30 young shooters through my foundation.”
Bindra’s German trainer, Heinz Reinkemeier criticised the Indian media for what she felt was an obsession with winning a medal than the sport. “They just come and want gold. They are not interested in the sport or the individuals. They just want gold, gold, gold,” the trainer said.
{{/usCountry}}Bindra’s German trainer, Heinz Reinkemeier criticised the Indian media for what she felt was an obsession with winning a medal than the sport. “They just come and want gold. They are not interested in the sport or the individuals. They just want gold, gold, gold,” the trainer said.
{{/usCountry}}