Commonwealth Games

Bindra becomes fourth shooter to carry Indian flag

India’s only individual Olympic champion Abhinav Bindra on Sunday became the fourth shooter to carry the national flag in a mega event.

Bindra, who won the gold in the 10 metre air rifle event in Beijing, was elated. He said it was a dream come true.

“As a 15-year-old I represented the country in my first Commonwealth Games in 2002 at Manchester. Today I am living a dream. To represent the country in the Commonwealth Games and also to carry the national flag is a great honour,” said Bindra, who was the youngest member of the Indian contingent in Manchester.

Since the 1982 Asian Games, Indian shooters have been flag bearers in different multi-event extravaganza.

The late Karni Singh, a silver medallist in skeet in the World Championships, was the flag bearer at the 1982 Asian Games. World champion pistol shooter Jaspal Rana carried the Indian flag at the 1998 Commonwealth Games in Kuala Lumpur.

Athens Olympics silver medallist Rajyavardhan Singh Rathore carried the Indian flag at the 2006 Melbourne Commonwealth Games and the 2008 Beijing Olympics.