Kishanpura (Punjab), January 16
This is the big year for sports, and in typical Indian style, we have started it with the biggest controversies. As if the shame brought on to the national game was not enough, now the country’s only Olympic Gold medallist, Abhinav Bindra has threatened to quit the sport. Bindra spoke to the media at his farmhouse near Chandigarh and said he was ‘distressed’ that the National Rifle Association of India (NRAI) had treated him with such indifference, and not made him a part of the squad for the Commonwealth Shooting Championship in February.
Bindra said, “It is quite unfortunate and extremely distressing to me that my point of view is not being appreciated and respected. The present situation leaves me very frustrated and upset and it does not really leave me with much motivation.” “It disturbs me and makes it difficult for me to focus on the sport. Shooting is a very mental sport. I have to be in the right frame of mind to concentrate and focus on shooting well. I don’t see the chance of future success if I am not going to be allowed to prepare in a certain way of training and competing that my professional team has planned.”
Bindra added that he was told by the Ministry of Sports (MoS) in July and September 2009 that the NRAI wanted him to participate in the selection trials in December 2009, the Commonwealth Shooting Championships in February 2010 and the ISSF World Cup in March. According to Bindra, he gave his confirmation for the listed events, but when he returned to India in December 2009, he was told there were to be no trials. Subsequently, he was also not included in the Commonwealth shooting squad.
Bindra added, “These events have left me very disturbed and frustrated at the way my professional training has been discounted. In light of these events, I have requested the MoS and the NRAI that my future international results be regarded as a benchmark for my selection, so that I can focus on my training program and method, which has shown great results in the past. I am travelling to Europe in the coming week to consult my team of professionals to chart out my future course of action.”
