Sometimes winning is everything and that’s what India’s first gold medal winner, Abhinav Bindra has proved. He has given us our most glorious moment so far in the world of sport. That 25-year old from Chandigarh has won the country’s first ever Olympic gold medal in Beijing is already on the lips of one and all. All of us are celebrating his victory because we regard that it is not his alone but as ours. We have waited for this occasion for more than a century. Shooting is not a popular sport in India. Not many of us may actually be aware of the nuances involved in the 10-meter air rifle event that Bindra has clinched. Who cares? What matters is that the Indian tricolor has been unfurled and national anthem sung for the first time in the Olympiad ahead of the rest in a victory ceremony in an individual game.

Young people will be inspired to think that they can do it. All that they have to do is to follow Bindra’s mantra which is focus on the target and never give up. More and more boys and girls will take to playfields than ever before. Olympic is a global movement, a multi-sport international event. One who emerges on top in this competition is truly the best in the world. That explains why Bindra has not drawn as much popular attention after winning the World and Commonwealth titles. Today he is an icon. This is the difference that the Olympic touch makes. In comparison even the Midas touch pales in significance.
Bindra has got us not only the first individual gold medal. He has also won for the country the first gold medal in 28 years. The last such winner was our hockey eleven in the Moscow Olympics in 1980. Besides his professional excellence Bindra has set an example in personal conduct as well.

While lavishing praise on him his fellow-sports persons have said that he will be back to the shooting range for further honing-Ns skills sooner rather than later. They are indeed convinced that he may have by now set in motion the exercise for the ext Olympic title in 2012. Simultaneously he has triggered a healthy debate which, regardless of arguments for and again, emphasizes the necessity of providing all requisite facilities to aspiring sports persons. It is to be welcomed that announcements of awards and honors for Bindra are pouring in uninterrupted. How else can the country honor the one who has honored it? State governments are vying with one another in recognition of his stupendous effort. This will give a fillip to the imagination of the youth which has been fired by Bindra. We are encouraged to think that the 2012 Olympiad may largely be an Indian story. Bindra has done his bit and made the nation proud. India is full of talent. The right assistance and the base setup are needed to support the talent and there is a need to encourage other than cricket sports and with hard work and assistance from the government we will definitely be getting more of golden moments.