Bindra says more high-performance centres on anvil

Seeking to bridge the gulf between the advanced technology the world uses and the ones accessible to Indian athletes, Olympic champion Abhinav Bindra plans to set up more high-performance and rehab centres across the country.

"I have plans to scale up. A few of our centres are doing well. I have identified that the best centre currently is the one in Mohali. Things are coming up, I do have plans to open more centres across the country, and I am looking for like-minded individuals to partner with," Bindra said on the sidelines of an event in the capital.

The 35-year-old remains India's only individual gold medallist in the Olympics.

Since retiring from shooting, Bindra has set up what is arguably one of India's top-notch high performance and rehab centres at Mohali and Delhi.

"Unfortunately in India those facilities were absolutely not available, they were not available for sport, they were also not available for normal rehab, neurological rehab, or preventive health care.

"I had access to this doctor in Munich, a very famous sports medicine doctor, who has been associated with football teams, Bolt etc. etc. He has this great setup, a lot of technology that he uses for rehabilitation for not just athletes but normal people also have access."
"It's the philanthropy that I do, I run it through my foundation and all elite athletes, all upcoming athletes have free access to the best of facilities in terms of high performance, rehab, prevent injuries. It's a very interesting, unique journey I have undertaken."
"Unfortunately, after care is not available in this country and that's where I am trying to bring a change in the system. People deserves the best, people deserves to be healthy."