Sports
Sikh Gifts India Its First Gold
BBC NEWS
Prime Minister Manmohan Singh has lavished praise on Abhinav Singh Bindra, India's country's first - and so far, the only - individual Olympic gold medallist.
The Prime Minister said that Bindra's achievement - he claimed the men's 10m air rifle shooting title at Beijing on Monday, August 11, 2008 - was a "golden performance".
India's President has also lauded Bindra's feat.
Bindra shot an overall score of (596+140.5) 700.5 in a thrilling finale which went right down to the last shot and proved, as his father said, that Singh is King, indeed.
The gold comes hours after his family members and a large number of well-wishers gathered in a Chandigarh gurdwara to pray for the success of the man many had hoped would bring laurels to his community and state.
The silver in the event went to Chinese Zhu Qinan (699.7), while Finland's Henri Hakkinen (699.4) had to be content with a bronze.
Until now, India has never won an individual Olympic title before this Sikh-Indian's success. His win has led news on Indian TV channels and websites, which have described it as "historic".
Journalists descended on the Bindra family home in Chandigarh, Punjab as soon as news of the win came in.
"We are very proud of our son. He has done a great thing for the country. We will be rushing to [the capital] Delhi to receive him when he returns on Thursday", news agencies quoted his mother Babli telling reporters.
His mother said the family would visit the Durbar Sahib in Amritsar (Golden Temple) to "pay obeisance for his success".
The gold medallist's father said his son had worked hard to achieve the feat.
"He paid a lot of attention towards physical training despite his back injury. He did tough commando training in Germany for three weeks prior to the Olympics", said Dr. A.S. Bindra, who is a businessman.
Members of India's governing parties also announced cash rewards for Abhinav Singh Bindra.
India's Federal Railway Minister is reported to have announced the shooter would be receiving a free travel pass.
August 11, 2008
Conversation about this article
1: Sandhu (Canada), August 12, 2008, 11:32 AM.
As a mother of an athlete, I can only imagine what the Bindras are experiencing right now. Our very best to the Bindra family and a very special "Shabaash" to Abhinav. God Bless and much success in the future.
2: Amardeep (U.S.A.), August 12, 2008, 12:02 PM.
Great. Even better if he had worn a turban on the medal podium (but this is just my idea).
3: Gurjender Singh (Maryland, U.S.A.), August 20, 2008, 5:30 PM.
Great, Congratulations to Abhinav and his parents. Every one is proud of your achivement. God bless you.