Abhinav Bindra hopeful of India recording best-ever medal haul in Tokyo Olympics

India’s solely particular person Olympic gold medallist Abhinav Bindra is hopeful of the nation recording its best-ever medal haul within the upcoming version of the mega-event in Tokyo, saying every of the athlete will be counted as a “realistic” prospect.
India’s greatest displaying on the Games stays the six medals it received in London in 2012.
“Tokyo Olympics could end up with our best ever medal haul even though the times are challenging due to the COVID-19 pandemic,” Bindra stated on Monday throughout a webinar organised by Merchants’ Chambers of Commerce & Industry.
“Sport is not scripted but I do hope that we come back with our best medal haul and that means we will come back with 5-6 medals and better the London haul, which, if I am not wrong, remains our best.”
Bindra, who created historical past by profitable the nation’s first and solely particular person Olympic gold medal on the 2008 Beijing Games, is optimistic a couple of robust efficiency by the Indian taking pictures contingent within the Japanese capital.
“I believe every considered one of them has the power to do their greatest, they’ve proved themselves within the final two-three years.
“There are definite medal hopes not just in shooting but across other disciplines as well. We have many people who can be considered as realistic medal hopes going into Tokyo. But a lot also depends on that particular day,” he stated.
The former world champion in 10m air rifle, who turned entrepreneur after the Rio Olympics in 2016, stated like in sports activities, adaptability and acceptance additionally come helpful in enterprise.
“Whenever I’m in a disaster state of affairs, at any time when I discover a problem I do look again at my sporting profession and ask myself how do I face it.
“As an athlete you have to be very adaptable to changing situations, these are very useful in business as well,” he stated whereas talking on his transition from a sportsman to an entrepreneur.
“The other thing that is very important is acceptance. Sometimes we have to learn how to accept and move on as soon. As you do that your mind opens, it opens up to look at solutions rather than whining. The mind is then very positive. But it is easier said than done.”
He additionally stated the taking pictures scene has modified so much from the time when he had began 22 years in the past.
“Shooting is now dominated by youngsters but when I was growing up, I was competing with older and experienced people who were double or triple our age. I don’t think it was a challenge but it was an interesting dynamic,” he stated, responding to a query.
Speaking concerning the time after his Beijing heroics, when he contemplated giving up taking pictures, Bindra stated meditation helped him regain his concentrate on the game.
“Post Beijing I wished to surrender. I went for a meditation retreat, a 10-day Vipasana the place I’m presupposed to meditate for 10 hours a day. That’s after I realised that I used to be nonetheless in love with the method.
“Actually it was the boring and mundane that again brought me back to the sport,” the previous shooter, who now runs the Abhinav Bindra Targeting Performance Centre (ABTP) stated.