Bindra wants Olympic sports to be given priority

Indias lone Olympic gold medal winner Abhinav Bindra today said that Olympic sports should be given priority to make India a sporting nation.

New Delhi, Aug 14 : India's lone Olympic gold medal winner Abhinav Bindra today said that Olympic sports should be given priority to make India a sporting nation.

After a meeting with President Pratibha Patil, Bindra said he was overwhelmed at the reception given to him on his return from Beijing.

"I am extremely happy. I am overwhelmed at the response received here," he added.

Earlier today he was given a rousing welcome at the Indira Gandhi International Airport.

Besides his family, a large number of Abinav's fans had gathered at Airport to receive him.

His father AS Bindra, his mother Babli Bindra, his sister and brother-in-law were also present at the airport.Today, Abhinav is scheduled to meet Union Sports Minister MS Gill, Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh, UPA chairperson Sonia Gandhi and Lok Sabha Speaker Somnath Chatterjee.

Bindra had been fourth after qualifying but had a brilliant final round and he hit a near perfect 10.8 on his last shot to pull in front of Henri Hakkinen of Finland, who fell to bronze with a poor final shot.

He hit a near perfect 10.8 in a brilliant final shot to pull ahead of Henri Hakkinen of Finland, who stumbled in his last shot allowing China's Zhu Qinan, the favourite, to take the silver.

India had only won four individual medals, none of them gold, since sending their first team to the Summer Games in 1928.

The men's hockey team has won the Olympic tournament eight times, but the last time was in 1980.

ANI