Beijing Olympics 2008

Bindra is ungrateful: IOA officials

After winning India’s first individual gold in Olympics, the shooter gave credit to his father for the success. Abhinav said that the victory was more in spite of the system than because of it. This comment infuriated Digvijay Singh, the president of the Shooting Federation of India and he said that shooters like Abhinav Bindra and Jaspal Rana were being ungrateful by saying such things.

“It seems there is something in the system that is troubling the athletes. It is easy to talk after you have won. There is a limit to how ungrateful a person can be. Any athlete in this country have got to have got some help. Who said their wins are outside the system it’s the people of the system who have helped. We have spent so much money on them, you can’t believe everything you hear. But they must have some grievance. This is not a grievance, this is just the pride that comes from victory and fame. In any case it’s not the person who has won, it’s the country,” said Digvijay Singh.

Suresh Kalmadi, the Indian Olympic Association chief, also reiterated the same opinion but in a milder way.

“No doubt Abhinav’s father has played an important role in his winning the gold medal, but the contribution of others cannot be denied. The Shooting Federation of India had sent Abhinav abroad and this had contributed in improving his skills,” he said during the All-Star Asian Athletics Meet in Bhopal.

Tags: Abhinav Bindra, beijing olympics 2008, IOA, Shooting Federation of India