New Delhi: Shooting legend Abhinav Bindra expressed his satisfaction at seeing the youngsters perform well at the ISSF World Cup (Rifle/Pistol/Shotgun) in Mexico and predicted a bright future for Indian shooting.
The Indian shooters bagged a total of nine medals so far across 10 days, including four gold-which propelled them to the top of the medals tally.
Bindra took to Twitter to express his thoughts, where he tweeted, “The Indian Shooting Teams performance at Mexico starts a new era in Indian shooting.”
He also put his faith on this group of shooters to bring success to the country in the Olympics.
“The future [of shooting] is in extremely safe hands & am confident that the young athletes have the ingredients to take them to the very top of the Olympic podium. Congratulations to all,” he added.
The Punjab-born shooter continues to be Indians only individual gold medal winner after he achieved the feat in the 2008 Beijing Olympics, winning the 10m Air Rifle event.
Bindra, who has won the Khel Ratna and the Arjuna award has a total of four CWG gold medals and one at the ISSF World Cup in 2006.
Bindra also lauded the mentors and junior coaches, who helped these shooters prepare for the future by laying a strong foundation. In his tweet, he tagged
former Asian games and CWG gold medalist, Jaspal Rana, who is also the chief junior national coach for pistol. He also tagged former Olympian Joydeep Karmakar, who is developing stars like Mehuli Ghosh in his academy.
“Also a special mention for all the Junior Team Coaches and support staff who hve worked tirelessly away from the spotlight and bright lights to lay a strong foundation which has resulted in all the medalsThey must be empowered to further their work. @jaspalrana2806 @Joydeep709,” he tweeted.
Akhil Sheron, on Saturday won the gold medal in the men’s 50m Rifle-3 Position. On the first day of the tournament, debutants Shahzar Rizvi and Mehuli Ghosh won gold and bronze in the 10m pistol and women’s 10m air rifle event. Jitu Rai also won the bronxe medal in the 10m air pistol event. Mehuli won another bronze when she partnered Deepak Kumar in the 10m air rifle mixed team event.
Manu Bhaker won two gold medals for India (women’s 10m air pistol individual event and in the mixed team event, where she teamed up with Om Prakash Mitharval). The lone silver medal winner for India was Anjum Moudgil who won it in the 50m rifle 3-position. Ravi Kumar fetched a bronze for India in the 10m air rifle men’s event.