Shooting star

Olympic gold medallist Abhinav Bindra tells us how, when he wanted to quit his sport, the competitor in him just didn’t allow it

Since that fateful August morning which added a golden chapter to the history of Indian sport, Abhinav Bindra has been taking it easy. He hasn’t taken part in any event and has enjoyed a long break. But that was till now. In Germany now, training as hard as ever, Bindra is looking forward to returning to competitive action. “There were thoughts of walking away from the sport, but the urge to compete comes from within, and here I am doing what I love most,” says the 27-year-old. He says that he didn’t want to force himself on the sport and that’s why the idea of quitting did cross his mind in the last 16 months.

There’s no doubt that Bindra earned the right to a break — after all, in the last 15 years he hasn’t had any — and he says that he enjoyed every minute of it. But now he is ready for some serious action, starting with an invitational event in Luxembourg.

“When I got back into training, initially it was a bit weird, but slowly things started to settle,” he says, talking about returning to his old regime. He knows that the first few events are just about getting into the groove, and it’s almost like a new adventure for him.

Beijing 2008 was a life-altering event not only for Bindra but for Indian sport. What has changed, I ask him? “Not much, to be honest, I am still the same guy who wanted to make a difference to Indian sport and, hopefully, to a certain extent I have,” he says.

Of course, Bindra has been actively involved in charity, sharing a stage with luminaries from other walks of life in acts of solidarity against terrorism, or for cancer awareness. He is of the opinion that if he can contribute to the betterment of the society, why not. He is one of the biggest role models in the country and is proud of the fact that people look up to him. But doesn’t that add pressure? “That’s something that has never bothered me,” he says, brushing off talk of pressure.

For the next two months he will be in Europe practicing as well taking part in other events. The World Championship in August 2010 is one event he is keenly looking forward to as he is the defending champion. And, of course, there are the Commonwealth Games in New Delhi. Speaking of which, Bindra says that he is confident of the event being a huge success. “I have no doubt that we will put up a good show — both off the field as well as on it,” he says. At events of this magnitude, he says, some hurdle or other will always pop up, but that his preparations are on track and he believes it will be a memorable event.

Bindra already has six medals from previous Commonwealth Games, and he is the world champion. What is left to win? How does he motivate himself? “Just being out there representing my country is the biggest motivation for me,” he says. And if that doesn’t motivate any athlete, then nothing ever will, he adds.

He is of the belief that trying to get better is a continuous process, one that never ends. Just because he won a gold doesn’t mean that the next time he steps out he will hit the bull’s-eye again. “Nothing lasts forever in life, and you have to keep working hard to be on the top of the game,” he says.

All champions have that innate quality of being ahead of the rest. Bindra is one of them. For him, winning is a habit. Once you get used to it, it’s difficult to shrug it off. But he knows that the next few months will throw up some good, some bad and possibly some great results. “I have been around long enough to know that disappointments are part and parcel of life.”

Members of the National Rifle Association of India were apparently miffed with Bindra as they had asked him to be present for “trials” but he didn’t turn up. He doesn’t want to comment on that issue, he says, adding that he holds nothing against them.

Bindra is one of the few athletes who has never felt that he lives in the shadow of cricketers — even well before Beijing happened. In fact, he was one of the first to congratulate them on becoming the number one team in the world. “They have done our country proud.”

After being away from the shooting ranges and the sport, Bindra is back where he belongs. And he wants to reach the pinnacle once again.