NEW DELHI: He is the ultimate champion who believes in moving on, rather than get nostalgic about his achievements, including the Olympic gold that he won on August 11 in Beijing last year.
It was the first individual gold for India in the 112-year history of Olympic Games, and the nation, quite overjoyed, rose as one to salute him.
I didnt know that a year has passed till people started calling me for interviews. The Olympic gold was what I had aspired and worked for all my life. The memories will remain with me for the rest of my life, said the world and Olympic champion Abhinav Bindra.
When I watched the Olympics as a kid on television, I never thought that I would be standing on top of the podium one day. All my efforts over the years were captured in that one moment. I am very proud of what I have achieved and very happy that it all turned out the way it did. But, I have moved on, and dont believe in living in the glory of the past, said Abhinav.
With the National Rifle Association of India (NRAI), taking a tough stand about keeping him in the fray for selection for the Commonwealth Games, Asian Games and the World Championship that are slated for 2010, Abhinav has had a lot of time to introspect and reflect on his career.
Of course, he has been shooting at his home religiously like ever before, and has in fact been close to perfection over the last three weeks.
It is the performance that gives me the kick now, not the scores or the medals. I enjoy training as I have always done, and am trying to improve all the time. That is my motivation, he said.
After the disappointment of the Athens Games in 2004, when he slipped from third to seventh in the final, owing to a faulty wooden floor, Abhinav had detached himself from the outcome.
He focused on the process, rather than the result. Perhaps, that was the secret of his success, as he prepared the best in the world. Abhinav stressed that it was a great opportunity for Indian sports to ride on the three medals won in Bejing, but was not sure whether the right things were being done to capitalise on the success so as to ensure more success in future.
Our system is not a medal-producing system like the Chinese. We need to address so many areas, and should have been already working our athletes towards London Olympics. Time is running out fast, he warned.
Realistic
Abhinav Bindra is realistic. He does not carry the weight of his Olympic gold. He knows that there is more to life than aiming at black paper, in solitary confinement for hours together and for years together!
He knows that he has to start from scratch in whatever field that he wants to master, including another tilt at the Olympics, if he so desires.
