Salute to 'retired' Abhinav Bindra for his dedication, focus towards shooting, says father

Abhinav Bindra's father Inderjit Singh Bindra on Sunday saluted his son, who announced his retirement from shooting today, for the dedication and focus that he had put in throughout his illustrious career.

Insisting that Abhinav had always followed a motto of 'service before self', Inderjit believes his son would surely serve as an inspiration for many young athletes.

"Yes, it is a very emotional day because he had put his 22 years in this sport and given the best of best by any world standards. I salute this man for his dedication and for his focus. He always had a motto-'service before self'and that is what he has done," Inderjit told ANI here.

"The type of character he has. When Abhinav walks into talk or anywhere, people just keep quite. The best thing about him is that he has an aura which is not false. He is a down to earth man. He is an inspiration for the people from various other walks of life," he added.

Meanwhile, National Rifle Association of India (NRAI) president Raninder Singh said that although it was sad to see Abhinav bidding adieu to the sport, they are looking forward to rely on the shooter in other ways.

"It's a matter of both joy and sorrow. It's a sad day because we are losing one of our top athletes. But we can now rely on him in other ways through which he will continue to add value to the sport," Raninder insisted.

Describing Abhinav as 'one of the greatest athletes' of all times, the NRAI president called on the country's young aspirants to take inspiration from him.

"I know him since long time, and his concentration, dedication, the massive methodology he applies in his goals that he sets for himself and in achieving those. He is one of the great sports athletes of our time that need to be emulated by youth," he added.

Abhinav, India's lone individual Olympic gold medallist, officially bid adieu to shooting, saying 'it is time to move on and hand over the baton to the younger generation.'

"It is an emotional day for me. I came fourth in Rio and now retiring after playing for two decades. In Rio, I didn't won a medal and stood fourth but it gave me a great closure," had said the 33-year-old, who missed out on his second Olympic medal after finishing fourth in the 10m Air Rifle event in the recently-concluded Rio Games.

The 2008 Beijing Olympics gold medallist also expressed gratitude to the NRAI, saying the organisation supported him and other shooters at every stage of their career.

"NRAI has supported the shooters. I want to thank NRAI. Under president Raninder Singh, the sport has improved by leaps and bounds," he had said.

"I have always believed in working hard. There is no substitute to hard work. I have given my all shooting and have got even more. Thank you once again everyone," Abhinav said.

Having started his Olympic journey in Sydney in 2000, Abhinav qualified in three Olympic finals including his golden journey of Beijing in 2008 (Athens being the other one) in his pet 10m air rifle, while he missed out in Sydney and London.

Bindra was last month appointed as the chairman of a review committee formulated by the NRAI to "examine and identify in a cold and ruthless manner" the reason as to why shooting failed to secure any medal at the recently-concluded Rio Games.