Opinion - Letters to the Editor   

Historic

August 11, 2008 is a day all Indians will remember. By clinching the first-ever individual gold medal at the Olympics by winning the 10-metre air rifle event at Beijing, Abhinav Bindra has not only made us all proud but also brought hope for our country which was in a state of denial after our hockey team failed to qualify for the Olympics. The presence of India’s name in the medals tally makes us immensely happy. Let Abhinav’s achievement inspire more youngsters to do their best and win honours for themselves and the country.

Sumathi Chandrashekaran,

Chennai

Abhinav has added glory to Indian sport by winning an Olympic gold. His victory marks a new beginning in sports. Youngsters can take inspiration from the 25-year-old’s performance.

Nashid Usman,

Kozhikode

The remarkable feat by the ace shooter has made the nation proud. It shows there is no dearth of sporting talent in India. If all the sports are treated on a par with cricket, it will rain gold for India in all international sports meets.

Syed Khaja,

Gulbarga

With a population of over 100 crore, we should have good sportsmen who can compete in any world event. There are many players who are seeking opportunities and encouragement through sponsorships. It is time we looked beyond cricket.

Saahitya Maadhuri Nemani,

Secunderabad

Abhinav’s gold is a great cause for celebration. His achievement is the culmination of single-minded focus and endless efforts. For India, the Olympics in the past always ended with the question: ‘Why can’t we win more?’ Abhinav, by striking gold, has made us hopeful that we are in for better times.

Ajay G. Pise,

Manipal

From being India’s first shooter to win a World Championship gold to emerging as its first individual Olympic gold medallist, the 25-year-old Abhinav has displayed nerves of steel. His perseverance has paid rich dividends.

R. Suresh,

Sahibabad

The sight of Abhinav standing on the podium receiving the gold medal will be etched in our collective consciousness for posterity. His victory will give birth to a new sporting culture, where nothing will be impossible to achieve. Well done, Abhinav. You have done us proud.

Navin Muralidharan,

Chennai

All those who watched Abhinav on television could not have missed his demeanour, which was calm and composed unlike that of players of other popular games who twist and turn to celebrate even a small achievement. Seeing Abhinav was like uncovering a treasure. Let us hope to see more such youngsters in future.

B. Madhava Murthy,

Hyderabad

Abhinav should henceforth be described as the man with a golden arm. He has made the nation proud.

B. Gurumoorthy,

Kumbakonam

It was heartening to hear India’s National Anthem being played at the Olympics. Congratulations and thanks to Abhinav for bringing this honour to the country. I hope his feat will inspire a whole new generation of Indians to excel in sports.

Vanita Garg,

Panchkula

Abhinav winning the Olympic gold was a historic moment for India. The first individual medal for a nation of a billion may just be the lucky start we have all hoped for. At least now, we’ll have the heart to invest in and encourage sports as a career option.

F. Merlin Flower,

Maruthancode

A pall of gloom descended on our nation when our hockey team failed to qualify for the Beijing Olympics. People lamented the sorry state of sports, except cricket. Today, the entire nation is in a mood to celebrate, thanks to Abhinav’s gold.

It is time the governments, at both the Centre and the States, took initiatives to nurture sporting talent at the grass roots level.

M. Jeyaram,

Sholavandan

Abhinav’s performance in Beijing not only earned him the gold medal but also boosted India’s image in the world of international sports. He has realised the dream of a billion Indians. It is a wonderful Independence Day gift to the nation.

Tauhid Nasir,

New Delhi

The 25-year-old has laid the stepping stone for the future of Indian sports. It is now for the government to spot and nurture such players. It is not as if there is a dearth of champion stuff in our country.

Too much commercialisation and pampering of cricket at the cost of other sports have caused much damage over the years.

N. Divakar,

Mysore

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