India's Golddust

INDIA’S GOLD DUST

                In 1996 and 2000 it was a bronze, in 2004 a silver and in 2008 finally a gold that would hopefully change the face of India’s Olympic sports. The first individual gold medal for free India. A quiet, unassuming and shy young lad from Chandigarh- Abhinav Bindra.

The youngest Indian to take part in the Olympics, Bindra was always at the cusp of glory. Awarded the Khel Ratna in 2001 was one in the list of numerous achievements. He is the junior world record holder and also the first Indian to win a World Championship gold. He also finished 7^th in the Athens Olympics –yet the man was not satisfied. Only the Olympics flame could satiate the fire that was within this young lad.

A man who is called “Champ” fondly by his aunt refused to be called so a day before the event and said that he should be called that only after he wins the event. When children of the age 6-7 were playing with toys, young Abhinav was spending hours shooting empty bottles and birds in his Punjab farmhouse.

A question to be asked here-How much role did the system play in this medal? Sadly not a lot. Probably Abhinav’s greatest fortune is his being born into a wealthy and supportive family. A family which made sure he did not have to train in India’s “state of the art“facilities. Rather he would train in his private shooting range. As a young lad Abhinav could spend long hours in his shooting range and practise for that eventual gold medal. As a 14-year-old, he would  turned up to practice for the first time in a Mercedes Benz at the Karni Singh ranges in Tughlakabad-something which not many sportsmen can afford forget Olympians .The family made sure he gets a professional rifle which not a lot of Indian athletes can afford. This should however not take anything away from him.

Not that this man did not have to face any hardships. A nagging leg injury almost brought an end to this prodigy’s career. But the man persevered and brought the best out in the Olympic arena. The man however remained calm and composed as ever, saying that for him life went on as usual- a hallmark of a true champion.

Abhinav Bindra truly proved that he has stuff champions are made of. Hopefully his desire that his gold medal would change the face of Indian Olympics sport is recognised and at least now the IOC does what it has to create champions.