By sportswriter Bai Xu
BEIJING, Aug. 11 (Xinhua) -- Monday was a big day for India, when shooter Bindra nailed the gold medal in the men's 10-meter air rifle at the
Beijing Olympics.
For India, it was the first Olympic individual gold.
Throughout its history, India won a few gold medals, all from the men's hockey, with the last one coming from the Moscow Olympics 28 years ago.
"It was fantastic, a historic moment," said the 26-year-old.
Bindrea was ranked third with 596 points after the qualification round where Henri Hakkinen of Finland, with 598, and defending champion Zhu Qinan of China, with 597, ranked first and second respectively.
Gold medalist in the 2006 Zagreb World Championships, Bindra pulled up his slacks from the beginning of the final, impressing spectators with a 10.7 in the first shot.
With all his shots above 10 point, the gentleman-looking Indian progressed steadily and surpassed his Finnish rival after the seventh shot.
Although he scored a 10.0 at the eighth shot, he made up for the lapse and finished with a 10.8, grabbing the gold before ending of the competition.
After the difficult contest, Bindra said he didn't expect to make history.
"I was not thinking too much. I just tried to shoot well," he said
Son of a successful businessman, Bindra started practicing shooting at the age of 15.
He said it was because he "liked the idea of fame".
His father's financial status provided him with the best competition and training equipment available.
"I have an air-conditioned shooting range with a totally computerised Target Transportation System of international standards," he said. "I am also equipped with around seven guns, ammunition, jackets and other shooting paraphernalia."
Although he said "shooting is 99 per cent luck and one percent training", the quiet man was diligent in training and did seven hours of shooting and two hours of stretching and jogging.
His efforts paid off.
In 2001, the Indian cut a figure at the Munich fort of World Cup by bagging the bronze.
In 2006, he made his name known by winning a gold at the World Championships.
But the Olympic Games was a pain to him.
He competed as the youngest shooter at the Sydney Olympics in 2000 at the age of 18, and also the youngest person to represent India at an Olympic Games. But he returned empty-handed.
Four years later, he went to Athens, loaded with hope. But his result was just seventh.
This time upon his departure, the sports official offered a 10-million-rupee reward.
But Bindra said his life would not be changed by this victory.
After expressing his gratitude to his relatives and friends, he said , "I just wanna fly back home."
Editor: Xinhuanet
