No turning back, Bindra bids adieu
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.
That is an unfair question to ask... I’ve no idea (his future)... I am converting that into a vegetable garden (shooting range at home in Chandigarh). I have announced my retirement, so there is no reconsideration. I am not going to shoot again... ABHINAV BINDRA