India can win 10 medals in next Olympics: Abhinav

India can win 10 medals in next Olympics: Abhinav

Abhinav Bindra has immense faith in Indian sports talent and believes that India can win 10 medals in the next Olympics, even as he emphasised the need to groom coaches with technical knowledge.

"I see India winning 10 medals at the next Olympic meet," Abhinav, India's first Olympic gold medallist in an individual event, said at a press conference at his plush farmhouse residence, about 20 km from Chandigarh.

The Punjab shooter said the mantra for success was not having just foreign coaches but training Indian hands in technical and other aspects.

"Indian coaches are equally capable but the problem is we don't train them in technical and other stuff," the 25-year-old shooter said.

He said in this cricket-crazy country there was a lot of talent in other sports and stressed it will take a great effort and a ‘combination of so many things’ to taste success.

"Cricket is huge in this country. I love cricket and though cricket is the most popular game, that will not help recognise India as a sporting power," pointed out Bindra, whose favourite is Sachin Tendulkar.

"I just want to say encourage Olympic sport," he said.

Praising China's obsession about winning gold medals at the Olympics, he said the government should be ‘serious’ about having an Olympic programme if the country is to raise its medal hopes.

Asked if he was planning to propose to the Prime Minister about how India can go about its Olympic programme, Bindra said, "though there is no such thing at the moment, I will like to certainly contribute in some way and in course of time I will think about it".

Asked if he was hoping for the gold the day he finally won it, he said, "I always keep myself detached from winning. I just try to keep my cool and focus on my performance rather than winning".

However Abhinav added that he was ‘tense, nervous and did not sleep the night before (the day he won)’.

On his cool and calm composure, Abhinav joked saying ‘looks are pretty deceptive. I am not that cool and calm’.

Asked about his plans for next Olympics, pat came the reply ‘It is too early to say, I have just come back’.

Bindra said he was overwhelmed by the response he got back in his country after winning the gold in Beijing, and also hinted that his 'Abhinav Sporting Trust', set up by his father A S Bindra, would soon select budding sportspersons including shooters and other disciplines and train them.

"We will like to produce some champions," Bindra senior, who along with wife Babli Bindra was seated near Abhinav, said.