Sports Minister lauds Bindra's feat, says many more to come

Sports Minister M S Gill today congratulated shooter Abhinav Bindra for creating history by clinching India's first ever Olympic individual gold and said his feat will encourage others to come up with medals in the quadrennial event in future.

"Bindra has created history. This medal is really the beginning for India and I am sure in future there will be many more to come," Gill said.

Bindra became India's first ever individual gold medalist in the Olympics after winning the 10m air rifle event in Beijing today.

The Sports Minister was particularly impressed with the 25-year-old Chandigarh lad's calm and composure throughout the final of the event, which eventually proved to be decisive.

"To comeback after injury and do what he has done is amazing. He was calm and composed throughtout the event. Thats what you need in such a back stage," he said.

Gill also said Indian shooters disappointing performance in the first two days of the Beijing Games, especially of World Champion trap shooter Manavjit Singh Sandhu, was part and parcel of the game.

"Unfortunately, Sandhu (Manavjit) did not get what we expected from him, but that happens in sports," he said.