Beijing Olympics 2008

Abhinav Bindra comes home

India’s first individual Olympic Gold medallist, Abhinav Bindra returned from the Beijing Games early morning on Thursday. Bindra’s immediate family and friends received the new pin-up boy of Indian sports at the Delhi airport.

Abhinav Bindra had created history on Monday in the Beijing Olympics by winning the 10m air rifle event on Monday, thus becoming the first individual Olympic Champion in India.

As he came out of the airport, he flashed his Olympic medal amidst a glitter of flashbulbs, capturing the historic moment. And the latest hero on India’s sporting fornt, Bindra was accorded the kind of welcome, which can only be matched up by the cricketers in India. To the beats of bhangra, the Punjabi boy was welcomed back home.

Cameramen and reporters jostled for the best shot and maybe a byte, fans jostled and pushed for the glimpse of their Olympic hero. But the 25-year-old nicknamed the Monk was his usual calm, collected and soft-spoken self and only spoke after much persuasion.

Though only a couple of sentences, he said, “I am very happy and I never expected this sort of a reception.”

Tags: 10m air rifle, Abhinav Bindra, beijing olympics 2008, Olympic Gold, shooting