India's Gold medallist Abhinav bindra news,Gold medallist Abhinav bindra gallery,Gold medallist Abhinav bindra pictures

India's Gold medallist Abhinav bindra news,Gold medallist Abhinav bindra gallery,Gold medallist Abhinav bindra pictures

Indian and Finnish surprises rule the day

(BEIJING, August 11) -- Upsets marked the third day of competition in the Olympic Shooting tournament.

India's Abhinav Bindra surprised all by winning the gold medal in the Men's 10m Air Rifle. Bindra shot a total of 700.5 to defeat favorite Zhu Qinan of China and Henri Hakkinen of Finland, who won the silver and bronze medals respectively.

Bindra's gold medal is the first time that an Indian athlete has won an individual Olympic gold medal. India's previous eight gold medals were all won in Hockey.

Athens 2004 gold medalist Zhu will be disappointed at not winning his second Olympic gold medal, but he has a lot more Olympic competition ahead of him -- Zhu is only 23 years old.

At 25, Bindra is not much older than Zhu, so today's event could be the start of a promising rivalry between the shooters from the world's most populous countries.

Bindra, who secured the gold medal with a 10.8 on his last shot, managed to block out the pressure of being India's first individual gold medalist.

"I was trying to concentrate on shooting. I wasn't thinking about making history. I mean I was two points behind at one stage. I was just trying to concentrate. I just wanted to shoot well, I just wanted to shoot aggressively, and that's what I did," said Bindra.

Zhu on the other hand, shot well below his best and was probably affected by the huge expectations placed on him to win gold.

"My desire for getting another gold medal for my motherland was so strong that I was under so much stress before the Games," said Zhu.

Finland's Satu Makela-Nummela won the gold medal in the Women's Trap, making her only the third Finnish woman to win an Olympic gold medal.

To win gold, Makela-Nummela was forced to defeat Slovakia's Zuzana Stefecekova, who is a world recorder in the event.

Makela-Nummela shot a final score of 91, two more than Stefecekova. The United States' Corey Cogdell won the bronze medal after winning a shoot-off.

The gold medal was an open race after the two favorites, San Marino's Daniela Del Din and China's Liu Yingzi failed to make the final.

Nation Line up To Congratulate Abhinav bindra

ts showering accolades for the Gold medallist Abhinav bindra and here's a round up how an entire nation and fraternity lined up to congratulate the young shooter!

PM, President Congratulate

President Pratibha Patil, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and leaders across the political class today hailed the gold medal winning feat of shooter Abhinav Bindra, saying it would be an inspiration to youths to take up sports as a full-time career. Lavishing full-some praise on Bindra, they said his achievement would inspire other sportspersons to reach the pinnacle of any sports at the international level.

Patil said "Bindra has realised the dream of a billion people" and his achievement "is even greater as not only has India won a gold medal at the Olympics after a very long gap of 28 years but also because you have become the first ever Indian to win a gold medal at the Olympics in an event." She said Bindra's achievement "should inspire confidence among all Indian sportspersons that they can achieve the pinnacle of any sports at the international level and be also inspiration for more of our youths to take up sports as a full-time career".

Vice President Hamid Ansari said Bindra's "singular achievement is an inspiration for all Indian sportspersons and has made the country proud." Prime Minister Manmohan Singh said the shooter has "done the nation proud through his spectacular achievement which I hope will inspire you and other sportspersons of our country to achieve the highest levels of excellence in the international arena".

Sonia says win will inspire contingent

New Delhi: Congress President and UPA Chairperson Sonia Gandhi today congratulated Abhinav Bindra for getting an Olympic gold and said the "victory will inspire the whole Olympic contingent to keep India's flag flying high".

In a letter written to Bindra and addressed to him in the Olympics Games village in beijing Gandhi said, "You have brought pride, glory and joy to India with your brilliant performance in the 10-metre air-rifle shooting at the Beijing Olympics".

"To you goes the honour of being the first Indian ever to have won an individual Olympic gold medal - an honour that is richly deserved.." Praising Bindra, the letter said, "your mental strength, your discipline and perseverance, your calm concentration in the face of tremendous pressure, your superb physical coordination, and your ardent desire to do your country proud - all these qualities came together in your victorious performance in Beijing".

In her letter, Gandhi wished she was in Beijing to witness the exhilarating moment. "I wish, I was there to witness this exhilarating moment," she said, adding, "along with every Indian, I rejoice and congratulate you in your shining achievement".

Gandhi hoped that Bindra's victory will inspire the whole Indian contingent to keep India's flag flying high.

Kumble and Co congratulates Olympic gold medalist Bindra

Colombo : India Test skipper Anil Kumble heaped praise on Abhinav Bindra for winning first-ever individual Olympic gold medal for the country and congratulated him on behalf of his entire team for his tremendous effort.

"Winning an Olympic gold medal is something really great and my congratulations on behalf of the Indian cricket team. Congratulations to Abhinav Bindra for a fantastic effort," Kumble said.

"It's a great effort to become a world champion and winning an individual medal in a sport is a greater achievement," he added.

Bindra created history in the Chinese capital by claiming winning the 10m air rifle event today to give india its first ever individual gold in Olympic

Yuvraj Excited

Chandiagrh: Cricketer Yuvraj Singh today joined the nation in hailing Abhinav Bindra's Olympic gold medal winning feat in Beijing and said he was proud of his citymate's achievement.

"He (Abhinav) has proved that he is the best. As a sportsman, I feel proud of his achievement like the whole nation today," Yuvraj told PTI.

Bindra created history in the Chinese capital by claiming winning the 10m air rifle event today to give India its first ever individual gold in Olympic

Tamil Nadu announces five lakh for Bindra

Chennai : tamil nadhu Chief Minister M Karunanidhi today announced an award of Rs five lakh to ace shooter Abhinav Bindra for winning the Gold Medal in the 10m Air Rifle shooting event at the Beijing Olympics.

While congratulating Abhinav Bindra for his gold winning performance on behalf of Tamil Nadu Government, Karunanidhi, in a statement, said "Bindra has brought glory to the entire nation".

Karnataka To Award Ten Lakhs

Bangalore : Karnataka government today announced Rs 10 lakh cash award to shooter Abhinav Bindra who won India's first olympic individual gold medal at Beijing. Chief Minister B S Yeddyurappa, who complimented Bindra for bringing laurels to the nation, also announced that his government will reward any Indian Sportsperson with Rs 10 lakh cash prize if they win gold medal in the ongoing Olympics.