His Olympic journey started with the Commonwealth Games in Kuala Lumpur in 1998, when Abhinav Bindra was the baby of the team at 15 years of age.
Poised to fire his best in his fourth Commonwealth Games, Bindra, the World and Olympic champion declared that he had found the hunger back, “to compete hard and be desperate about getting good scores and good results”.
After firing 100 rounds as part of intense training on Wednesday, the 28-year-old Bindra said he was happy with his form.
“I am trying to prepare to the best of my ability, and make use of the opportunity. Am positive about being at my best when it matters,” he said.
Desire to excel
More than the form, he was happy to find the desire to excel. That driving force had been quite elusive post Beijing Olympics.
“I talked to people and psychologists. It was of no help. Then, I started slowly getting the drive back, prompted by the failures, particularly the failure in the World championship,” reasoned Bindra.
“Nothing else brought that drive. The only way was through failures. My journey post Beijing has started once again. Am back on the right track,” he asserted.
Bindra acknowledged that the mood in the Indian shooting camp was very positive, and everyone was focused on the task. “We have so much talent, so many good shooters. Shooting has always brought good results. Everyone is keen to do well. That is a good sign,” he said.
Though he does not have his coach Heinz Reinkemeier around, Bindra said that he got along very well with the team's rifle coach Stanislav Lapidus of Kazakhstan.
He has won six medals in the Commonwealth Games over the years, and said that he was pleased with the collection. “It has been a long journey, from Kuala Lumpur in 1998. Of course, the World championship in Barcelona was my first international competition, but Commonwealth was my first multi-discipline event. I remember Manavjit (Singh Sandhu) and Mansher (Singh) winning the trap pairs gold ahead of the Australians. Jaspal won a lot of medals,” Bindra recalled.
Small beginning
He acknowledged the atmosphere of a multi-discipline competition fuelling his drive to get an Olympic medal, and said that a small beginning had been made then, way back in 1998.
“Commonwealth Games is at a small level as compared to the Olympics, but the atmosphere is almost similar. It helped in my Olympic journey. I am looking forward to the competition here. But, you can't be outcome driven, you have to be process driven,” he said.
“Gagan vs Abhinav, is a nice story for the media! We get along very well, and can't give the media an opportunity that way. You first shoot for the team together, and then the individual event next day. Whoever shoots better on the day wins. How does it matter whether I win or he wins, as long as we win,” queried Bindra.
The champion is quite relieved that the athletes would be seated to enjoy the opening ceremony after the march past on October 3, much in contrast to the long wait outside in such Games. He has been part of the opening ceremony only in the Sydney Olympics in 2000 apart from the Commonwealth Games in 1998. Perhaps, he became wise thereafter.
With his event scheduled two days after the opening, Bindra is ready to make an exception. Champions always march, ahead of the times!
