I’m in love with the sport all over again: Bindra A day after failing to qualify for the 10-metre air rifle final, Beijing gold medallist insists he has no plans to quit

I’m in love with the sport all over again: Bindra

A day after failing to qualify for the 10-metre air rifle final, Beijing gold medallist insists he has no plans to quit

One wonders what must have gone through Abhinav Bindra’s mind on Monday night. Would he have analysed his performance; contemplated his future? Or would he have quietly slipped into Gagan Narang’s room to have a word or two (which he said he would do)? Bindra had very little time to dwell on his failure to qualify for the final of an event in which he’d won the Olympic gold four years ago. He was hounded by the media — Indian and international — and asked about Narang’s feat, and his failure. It’s a difficult task for anyone, especially for someone like Bindra who is not media-savvy. Yet, he was gracious enough to revel in Narang’s success than sulk over his failure. That smile — remember the one after he won at the Beijing Olympics? — was still there. But one can’t but wonder what the future holds for the 29-year-old. By his own admission, Bindra had lost the motivation to continue after becoming India’s first individual gold medallist in 2008. “I have won everything a sportsman can. I have nothing left to achieve,” he had told DNA once. On Monday, Bindra was repeatedly asked whether he would give up the sport. He insisted he won’t. “I wanted to give up the sport at one time. For a year-and-a-half after winning the gold medal, I didn’t shoot at all. But I’m in love with the sport all over again. Right now, I’ve no plans of quitting,” he said after his disappointing qualifying round on Monday. “I have grown as a person, as an athlete in the last four years. I’m glad I came here (and participated in the 2012 Games).” Bindra usually adopts a rather restrained approach while talking to the press. He prefers dealing in monosyllables. However, he was refreshingly insightful and honest on Monday, dwelling on each aspect of his performance. And he looked rather relaxed. “No one wants to lose or likes losing. I came here well prepared but made some silly errors and lost. That’s the reality,” he said. Bindra was as gracious as ever. He took the entire blame on himself; there were no excuses whatsoever. “It got a bit difficult towards the end. The event was closing, there was a lot of noise and it was hard to keep up the momentum. I wasn’t shooting as well as I wanted to. I wasn’t feeling well in terms of my balance and stability. It was taking a lot out of me. I took a few risks and unfortunately that it go my way,” he said. Bindra was rushing through the interviews. Not because he didn’t want to speak but he wanted to reach in time for Narang’s final. There have been suggestions in the past that the two don’t get along, and that their rivalry has affected their relationship. Bindra was quick to brush off those remarks. “There is no rivalry with Gagan, please. I had predicted some time ago that he would win a medal and trust me, I am elated. It is fantastic. We’ve won a medal in the 10-metre air rifle in consecutive Olympics. And this is India’s first medal here, the colour is not important,” he said.