Having chased an Olympic medal all his career, Bindra had to deal with an enormous void after achieving his goal. He even thought of quitting the sport altogether but discovered later that his life was incomplete without the sport of Shooting. Bindra looks back on those dark days and also reflects on the impact of his Gold on the Indian sporting ecosystem

WION Broadband Olympics Edition: How Bindra's Gold change Indian sport

Abhinav Bindra's historic Gold at the Beijing Olympics was won on the back of some extremely detailed preparation. Bindra went to extreme lengths to eliminate all possible variables in his quest for Olympic glory. From mapping his brain to hiring a marriage hall to simulate the arena in Beijing, Bindra left no stone unturned in his quest. He even hoodwinked the Chinese by importing special ammunition and delivered the greatest blow by beating China's reigning Olympic champion Zhu Qinan in the final.

WION Broadband Olympics Edition: Bindra's extreme preparations for Beijing

Success in World sport is often built on the back of failure. Abhinav Bindra finished 7th in 10m Air Rifle at the Athens Olympics despite what he calls one of his best shooting performances ever. The loss at Athens caused Bindra to doubt his abilities and he devoted the next 4 years to avenge that defeat at the Beijing Olympics.

WION Broadband Olympics Edition: How Bindra regained his self-doubt ahead of Beijing

Indian sport had tasted Olympic success not once but 8 times in the sport of Hockey. But the wait for an individual Gold would end 61 years after Independence. Abhinav Bindra exorcised the ghosts of Athens 2004 with the 10m Air Rifle Gold at Beijing in 2008 and opens on why it is so difficult to stand on the top spot of the Olympic podium

WION Broadband Olympics Edition: Bindra's Golden moment at Beijing

Indian sport achieved its biggest success at the Olympics when Abhinav Bindra ended decades of cynicism by shooting down the 10m air rifle gold in 2008. Bindra was India's first and only individual Olympic champion but that win in Beijing was built on the back of crushing defeat at the Athens games 4 years previously. Bindra opens up on his journey to the Olympic gold with sports editor Digvijay Singh Deo and details the attention to detail that saw him turn self-doubt into his biggest triumph on the world stage

Wion Broadband Olympic Edition: One in a billion Abhinav Bindra's golden moment in 2008

Indian Wrestling had won India its first individual Olympic medal in 1952 through KD Jadhav. Despite being part of India’s martial tradition, an Olympic medal remained elusive. Sushil Kumar revived the sport in Beijing with a Bronze medal in the Men’s Freestyle 66kg and that sparked off a new era in Indian Wrestling. 12 years later Kumar looks back at the performance that put him on the Olympic podium.

Wrestler Sushil Kumar shares his Olympic medal-winning moment | WION Broadband Olympic Edition

India has won 8 Olympic Gold medals in Hockey but the wait for an individual Olympic Gold ended 61 years after independence. Abhinav Bindra wrote himself into the history books at Beijing with the 10m Air Rifle Gold and he still remains India’s only individual Olympic champion. Fellow Olympic medalists Sushil Kumar and Vijender Singh credit Bindra for instilling a new belief in India’s Olympic sportspersons.

Sushil Kumar, Vijender Singh credit Abhinav Bindra | WION Broadband Olympic Edition

Indian sport broke through at the Beijing Olympics with Abhinav Bindra winning a Gold in shooting and Sushil Kumar and Vijender Singh winning Bronze medals in Wrestling and Boxing respectively. Sushil would go on and achieve a second Olympic medal 4 years later in London. Those 2 feats remain the benchmark and Indian sport and Vijender believes that both Bindra and Kumar deserve the Bharat Ratna.

Vijender Singh: Abhinav Bindra & Sushil Kumar deserve Bharat Ratna | WION Broadband Olympic Edition

India's only individual Olympic champion Abhinav Bindra believes athletes the world over will have to adapt to changing circumstances to stay in shape for the 2021 Olympics. The International Olympic Committee or IOC has pushed the start of the Tokyo games by exactly a year to July 23, 2021 which ends the prevailing uncertainty in the minds of Olympic hopefuls. Bindra was speaking exclusively to WION's Sports Editor Digvijay Singh Deo on our special show, WION Sports Broadband Edition.

Olympic champ Bindra calls on athletes worldwide to adapt to changed circumstances

<p class="MsoNormal">There has been a lot of talks surrounding the Tokyo Olympics, which will now open on July 23, 2021, with the closing ceremony scheduled to be held on August 8, 2021, after the quadrennial event was delayed by a year amid the COVID-19 pandemic.</p>

<p class="MsoNormal">Many athletes and sporting federations had raised their concerns regarding the Games before they were postponed but the IOC after consulting with the Japanese government and all the relevant stakeholders came to a mutual agreement that it was the best possible decision to delay the event for the safety and welfare of the athletes and everyone associated with the Tokyo Olympics.&nbsp;</p>

<p class="MsoNormal">Padma Bhushan awardee, Abhinav Bindra, who is also India’s only individual Olympic gold medallist, spoke to WION’s Sports Editor Digvijay Singh Deo, in an exclusive interview,&nbsp;as the recipient of prestigious Blue Cross opened up on a lot of things ranging from the decision to postpone the Games, the ramifications of the Olympics, what is the way forward for the athletes from here and much more.&nbsp;</p>

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<p class="MsoNormal"><strong>ALSO READ:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/exclusive-i-saw-it-coming-apurvi-chandela-opens-up-on-tokyo-olympics-postponement-and-life-in-lockdown-289643" hreflang="en">Exclusive: 'I saw it coming' - Apurvi Chandela opens up on Tokyo Olympics postponement and life in lockdown</a></strong></p>

<p class="MsoNormal"><img alt="Abhinav Bindra" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="8eeff109-5fbb-43f5-bf4f-55c70e6a3eb8" src="//cdn.wionews.com/sites/default/files/inline-images/000_APH1234541.jpg" /><br />
<o:p></o:p></p>

<p><strong>Digvijay Singh Deo:</strong> Abhinav, let’s start by talking about the decision last evening from the International Olympic Committee. We have new dates for the Olympics and that will go a long way in ending the uncertainty among sportspersons.</p>

<p><strong>Abhinav Bindra:</strong> I think the decision has been made pretty quickly, only two weeks back there was a lot of uncertainty about the games getting postponed. The International Olympic Committee has taken a very prompt decision. They initially came up with a four-week deadline to make the call and didn't even use all of it and took a decision within 2 days. They have already revealed the new dates for the games in 2021 which is very good for the athletes. The athletes were getting extremely anxious due to the uncertainty surrounding the games. They would have continued to train if the game were not postponed, thereby putting their lives and their families at risk. So it is a very good decision to postpone and I am happy it was taken very quickly.</p>

<p><strong>DSD:</strong>&nbsp;A decision to postpone the Olympic Games is not an easy one. There is just so much riding on the games and new logistical nightmares are bound to crop up when you push Games back. Already the IOC has indicated that first priorities are the games village, sports venues and hotel bookings.</p>

<p><strong>AB: </strong>The decision cannot just be taken by the IOC, they have to consult all the relevant stakeholders, those are the organising committee, the government, &nbsp;and the many sponsors. Putting together Olympic games are an extremely complex process, keeping that in mind I think the decision to delay the games was taken very quickly. There was a little bit of pressure being built by the media, but given the stakeholders involved and the magnitude of the event, a timely decision was taken.</p>

<p><strong>DSD:</strong> The estimated cost of pushing the games back is being pegged at somewhere between $3 Billion to $6 Billion. I think in this entire postponement drama one seems to have forgotten that it is the Japanese taxpayer who will bear the brunt and they deserve to be lauded for agreeing to this postponement.</p>

<p><strong>AB: </strong>Japan needs to be lauded for agreeing to bear the cost of the postponement of the games. Do remember that due to the virus the economic outlook is pretty bleak but they have not flinched. It is extremely commendable, especially during these tough economic times for them to do that. The Japanese people are extremely determined and the preparations to the games have probably been the best ever. All the venues were ready well before time and they have done a fantastic job. They remain committed to hosting the best ever Olympics and I hope to come next year that will be the case.</p>

<p><img alt="tOKYO oLYMPICS" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="7d165394-6e34-4946-a549-ff2354004bba" src="//cdn.wionews.com/sites/default/files/inline-images/000_1PS34A_0.jpg" /></p>

<p><strong>DSD:</strong> You have been in the thick of the decision-making process. You are a member of the International Olympic Committee's Athletes Commission and there has been regular interaction between you all and IOC President Thomas Bach. You could say there was a push back by the athletes in these uncertain times as they were not being able to get on with the best possible preparations for the 2020 Olympics?</p>

<p><strong>AB:</strong> I think the athletes' view was given due consideration. The IOC always respects the voice of the athletes. In every commission of the IOC, there is always an Athletes' Representative. Even going forward, safeguarding the athletes and their health is of prime importance. All the Olympic Qualifiers have been put on hold currently and the directive given by the IOC to the International Federations is to hold the qualifiers only when they can guarantee fair access to all the players. That it also very important since 43 % of the athletes are yet to secure their place and they need to be given a fair shot at making the games in July 2021. So the athletes' health has been given prime importance in not only the postponement but also the principles laid out for the qualifiers for the 2021 games.</p>

<p><strong>DSD: </strong>Abhinav you were known for your meticulous preparation especially heading into the Olympics. Had you been still competing how difficult would it have been for you as a shooter to have the right frame of mind with all the uncertainty around you and the lockdowns.</p>

<p><strong>AB: </strong>Athletes have 15 months to go for the games, which is a big relief. It would have been a disaster in terms of preparation for the athletes if the games had only been postponed for 3 or 4 months, that is much tougher to deal with. Athletes plan their schedule in a way that they can peak just before the Olympics, so now that they have 15 months, they can go back to the drawing board. The priority of the athletes must be their health, whenever they get back to the training they can start afresh and work on a plan for 2021. It is not the ideal scenario, but performing at the highest level is all about adapting and I think that is a skill that athletes do have and they have to put that to good use at the moment. This is an unprecedented situation and not in our control. So the fact that they have 15 months to go for the games will be a big relief for them. But some athletes might be approaching the twilight of their careers, and 15 months is a long time for them. But it is out of our control and life isn't always fair so you have to just get on with it.</p>

<p><img alt="Abhinav Bindra" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="3a09b37b-5a9e-4d0d-aef5-d5676b6bf6ce" src="//cdn.wionews.com/sites/default/files/inline-images/000_APH1234553.jpg" /></p>

<p><strong>DSD:</strong> As it stands we have a new date for the Games but what about those who have won Olympic quota places a long time back. Take the case of your sport. Anjum Moudgil and Apurvi Chandela won quota places in September 2018 and it will be close to 3 years by the time they compete at the Games. Chandela admitted that constantly having to perform and give trials was extremely stressful. What would you advise quota holders like her and also national federations as the prevailing Olympic selection policies are currently in limbo?</p>

<p><strong>AB:</strong> The Olympic Quota places belong to the National Olympic Committees and they can rejig their policy ahead of the delayed games if they like.<br />
There could be two Scenarios- One would be that the NOCs would want to be fair to the athletes and they retain the same team as if the games were to be held in 2020.</p>

<p>Another point of view would be to change the team for the 2021 games as 15 months is a long period of time. But now that there is clarity on the dates, all federations, especially in India, should go back to the drawing board and come up with modified selection policies for the 2021 games at the earliest. We don't now when training will resume in most countries, so it will help the athletes to have clarity on the policies. I think in most countries there will be changes to the selection policy, When it comes to the Indian shooters I think they are very young so it shouldn't be much of a challenge for them and they will be able to adapt quite well.</p>

<p><strong>DSD:&nbsp;</strong>We need to divide Olympic hopefuls into two categories. One should those who have qualified for the games and the IOC has announced they or their NOC will retain the quota if it is for a team event. My immediate concern is for those who are yet to qualify. They still are not sure of when the qualification tournaments will resume and most are currently under lockdown across the world. Do you see the process resuming before October 2020?</p>

<p><strong>AB: </strong>It doesn't seem like there will be any qualifiers soon. The directive that has been given to the International federations is that appropriate preparation must be allowed for the athletes, which is already being taken into consideration. We don't know when this lockdown will end, there are some countries which have issued advisories and travel restrictions for six months. At the moment all Olympic qualifiers have been suspended. As of now, the way things stand I do not see qualifiers resuming before the end of the year or early next year. But the good thing is that there are 15 months still left, so that gives ample time for scheduling also. The qualifiers would have been a challenge to organise if the games had gone ahead this year. So hopefully things will settle down and return to normalcy over the coming months and the sporting calendar can resume.</p>

<p><img alt="Abhinav Bindra" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="8c2f7eb4-ab77-4e62-b2a5-457eb51429d0" src="//cdn.wionews.com/sites/default/files/inline-images/000_Del218640_0.jpg" /></p>

<p><strong>DSD: </strong>You mentioned the Indian shooting team some time back. There were a lot of expectations from them ahead of the 2020 Games. They dominated the world stage last year by winning 16 gold medals in the ISSF World Cups and three of them also won titles at the season ending World Cup Finals. What would you advise the likes of Saurabh Chaudhary, Manu Bhaker and Divyansh Singh Panwar who are all under 18 and may not have the experience to deal with the situation we are now facing.</p>

<p><strong>AB:</strong> I think a lot of responsibility will rest with the coaches and India has some excellent champions who are now coaching the national teams. I agree that for a very young athlete this kind of a scenario will be tough to handle. They need to be in constant touch with the coaches and I am sure our coaches will be up for the challenge. We have had exceptional success with our coaches in the last few years, and they will need to draw up a fresh plan for preparing for the games. Immediate training is obviously not possible given the situation. Coaches have a huge role to play now as mentors. I would tell the athletes to listen to their coaches. 2019 was obviously an unprecedented year for Indian shooting and it is unheard of for shooters to have back to back golden runs in our sport. Who knows maybe the postponement could be a blessing in disguise for India's shooters.</p>

<p><strong>DSD:</strong> On one hand you have shooting and then you have other sports like Badminton. Our star players like Saina Nehwal, Kidambi Srikanth and Parupalli Kashyap were all struggling to qualify for the Olympics as tournaments were being cancelled all over. This one year delay gives them an opportunity to regain full fitness and go full throttle at the qualifiers when they finally begin.&nbsp;</p>

<p><strong>AB:</strong> The athletes who accept the prevailing situation and adapt to it quickly are the ones who will succeed. There should be no resistance to the postponement. I have spoken to the athletes all over the world as part of my role with the IOC and there is an immense amount of relief. The uncertainty around the games was causing a lot of pressure and stress. Given the situation, people are able to deal with bad news, but they are not able to deal with not knowing. They are more at ease now and they can get back to training as soon as things settle down, but more importantly, they can start re-calibrating their minds and their goals since the dates have been announced. I think the athletes will be able to deal with that.</p>


There has been a lot of talks surrounding the Tokyo Olympics, which will now open on July 23, 2021, with the closing ceremony scheduled to be held on August 8, 2021, after the quadrennial event was delayed by a year amid the COVID-19 pandemic.

There has been a lot of talks surrounding the Tokyo Olympics, which will now open on July 23, 2021, with the closing ceremony scheduled to be held on August 8, 2021, after the quadrennial event was delayed by a year amid the COVID-19 pandemic. Many athletes and sporting federations had raised their concerns regarding the Games before they were postponed but the IOC after consulting with the Japanese government and all the relevant stakeholders came to a mutual agreement that it was the best possible decision to delay the event for the safety and welfare of the athletes and everyone associated with the Tokyo Olympics. Padma Bhushan awardee, Abhinav Bindra, who is also India’s only individual Olympic gold medallist, spoke to WION’s Sports Editor Digvijay Singh Deo, in an exclusive interview, as the recipient of prestigious Blue Cross opened up on a lot of things ranging from the decision to postpone the Games, the ramifications of the Olympics, what is the way forward for the athletes from here and much more. × ALSO READ: Exclusive: 'I saw it coming' - Apurvi Chandela opens up on Tokyo Olympics postponement and life in lockdown Digvijay Singh Deo: Abhinav, let’s start by talking about the decision last evening from the International Olympic Committee. We have new dates for the Olympics and that will go a long way in ending the uncertainty among sportspersons. Abhinav Bindra: I think the decision has been made pretty quickly, only two weeks back there was a lot of uncertainty about the games getting postponed. The International Olympic Committee has taken a very prompt decision. They initially came up with a four-week deadline to make the call and didn't even use all of it and took a decision within 2 days. They have already revealed the new dates for the games in 2021 which is very good for the athletes. The athletes were getting extremely anxious due to the uncertainty surrounding the games. They would have continued to train if the game were not postponed, thereby putting their lives and their families at risk. So it is a very good decision to postpone and I am happy it was taken very quickly. DSD: A decision to postpone the Olympic Games is not an easy one. There is just so much riding on the games and new logistical nightmares are bound to crop up when you push Games back. Already the IOC has indicated that first priorities are the games village, sports venues and hotel bookings. AB: The decision cannot just be taken by the IOC, they have to consult all the relevant stakeholders, those are the organising committee, the government, and the many sponsors. Putting together Olympic games are an extremely complex process, keeping that in mind I think the decision to delay the games was taken very quickly. There was a little bit of pressure being built by the media, but given the stakeholders involved and the magnitude of the event, a timely decision was taken. DSD: The estimated cost of pushing the games back is being pegged at somewhere between $3 Billion to $6 Billion. I think in this entire postponement drama one seems to have forgotten that it is the Japanese taxpayer who will bear the brunt and they deserve to be lauded for agreeing to this postponement. AB: Japan needs to be lauded for agreeing to bear the cost of the postponement of the games. Do remember that due to the virus the economic outlook is pretty bleak but they have not flinched. It is extremely commendable, especially during these tough economic times for them to do that. The Japanese people are extremely determined and the preparations to the games have probably been the best ever. All the venues were ready well before time and they have done a fantastic job. They remain committed to hosting the best ever Olympics and I hope to come next year that will be the case. DSD: You have been in the thick of the decision-making process. You are a member of the International Olympic Committee's Athletes Commission and there has been regular interaction between you all and IOC President Thomas Bach. You could say there was a push back by the athletes in these uncertain times as they were not being able to get on with the best possible preparations for the 2020 Olympics? AB: I think the athletes' view was given due consideration. The IOC always respects the voice of the athletes. In every commission of the IOC, there is always an Athletes' Representative. Even going forward, safeguarding the athletes and their health is of prime importance. All the Olympic Qualifiers have been put on hold currently and the directive given by the IOC to the International Federations is to hold the qualifiers only when they can guarantee fair access to all the players. That it also very important since 43 % of the athletes are yet to secure their place and they need to be given a fair shot at making the games in July 2021. So the athletes' health has been given prime importance in not only the postponement but also the principles laid out for the qualifiers for the 2021 games. DSD: Abhinav you were known for your meticulous preparation especially heading into the Olympics. Had you been still competing how difficult would it have been for you as a shooter to have the right frame of mind with all the uncertainty around you and the lockdowns. AB: Athletes have 15 months to go for the games, which is a big relief. It would have been a disaster in terms of preparation for the athletes if the games had only been postponed for 3 or 4 months, that is much tougher to deal with. Athletes plan their schedule in a way that they can peak just before the Olympics, so now that they have 15 months, they can go back to the drawing board. The priority of the athletes must be their health, whenever they get back to the training they can start afresh and work on a plan for 2021. It is not the ideal scenario, but performing at the highest level is all about adapting and I think that is a skill that athletes do have and they have to put that to good use at the moment. This is an unprecedented situation and not in our control. So the fact that they have 15 months to go for the games will be a big relief for them. But some athletes might be approaching the twilight of their careers, and 15 months is a long time for them. But it is out of our control and life isn't always fair so you have to just get on with it. DSD: As it stands we have a new date for the Games but what about those who have won Olympic quota places a long time back. Take the case of your sport. Anjum Moudgil and Apurvi Chandela won quota places in September 2018 and it will be close to 3 years by the time they compete at the Games. Chandela admitted that constantly having to perform and give trials was extremely stressful. What would you advise quota holders like her and also national federations as the prevailing Olympic selection policies are currently in limbo? AB: The Olympic Quota places belong to the National Olympic Committees and they can rejig their policy ahead of the delayed games if they like. There could be two Scenarios- One would be that the NOCs would want to be fair to the athletes and they retain the same team as if the games were to be held in 2020. Another point of view would be to change the team for the 2021 games as 15 months is a long period of time. But now that there is clarity on the dates, all federations, especially in India, should go back to the drawing board and come up with modified selection policies for the 2021 games at the earliest. We don't now when training will resume in most countries, so it will help the athletes to have clarity on the policies. I think in most countries there will be changes to the selection policy, When it comes to the Indian shooters I think they are very young so it shouldn't be much of a challenge for them and they will be able to adapt quite well. DSD: We need to divide Olympic hopefuls into two categories. One should those who have qualified for the games and the IOC has announced they or their NOC will retain the quota if it is for a team event. My immediate concern is for those who are yet to qualify. They still are not sure of when the qualification tournaments will resume and most are currently under lockdown across the world. Do you see the process resuming before October 2020? AB: It doesn't seem like there will be any qualifiers soon. The directive that has been given to the International federations is that appropriate preparation must be allowed for the athletes, which is already being taken into consideration. We don't know when this lockdown will end, there are some countries which have issued advisories and travel restrictions for six months. At the moment all Olympic qualifiers have been suspended. As of now, the way things stand I do not see qualifiers resuming before the end of the year or early next year. But the good thing is that there are 15 months still left, so that gives ample time for scheduling also. The qualifiers would have been a challenge to organise if the games had gone ahead this year. So hopefully things will settle down and return to normalcy over the coming months and the sporting calendar can resume. DSD: You mentioned the Indian shooting team some time back. There were a lot of expectations from them ahead of the 2020 Games. They dominated the world stage last year by winning 16 gold medals in the ISSF World Cups and three of them also won titles at the season ending World Cup Finals. What would you advise the likes of Saurabh Chaudhary, Manu Bhaker and Divyansh Singh Panwar who are all under 18 and may not have the experience to deal with the situation we are now facing. AB: I think a lot of responsibility will rest with the coaches and India has some excellent champions who are now coaching the national teams. I agree that for a very young athlete this kind of a scenario will be tough to handle. They need to be in constant touch with the coaches and I am sure our coaches will be up for the challenge. We have had exceptional success with our coaches in the last few years, and they will need to draw up a fresh plan for preparing for the games. Immediate training is obviously not possible given the situation. Coaches have a huge role to play now as mentors. I would tell the athletes to listen to their coaches. 2019 was obviously an unprecedented year for Indian shooting and it is unheard of for shooters to have back to back golden runs in our sport. Who knows maybe the postponement could be a blessing in disguise for India's shooters. DSD: On one hand you have shooting and then you have other sports like Badminton. Our star players like Saina Nehwal, Kidambi Srikanth and Parupalli Kashyap were all struggling to qualify for the Olympics as tournaments were being cancelled all over. This one year delay gives them an opportunity to regain full fitness and go full throttle at the qualifiers when they finally begin. AB: The athletes who accept the prevailing situation and adapt to it quickly are the ones who will succeed. There should be no resistance to the postponement. I have spoken to the athletes all over the world as part of my role with the IOC and there is an immense amount of relief. The uncertainty around the games was causing a lot of pressure and stress. Given the situation, people are able to deal with bad news, but they are not able to deal with not knowing. They are more at ease now and they can get back to training as soon as things settle down, but more importantly, they can start re-calibrating their minds and their goals since the dates have been announced. I think the athletes will be able to deal with that.

Exclusive: Abhinav Bindra opens up on Tokyo Olympics, athletes' preparation and much more

<p>The Tokyo Olympics were postponed by a year amid the COVID-19 pandemic. The International Olympic Committee (IOC) didn’t take much time to announce the rescheduled dates as the Games will now open on July 23, 2021, while the closing ceremony will be held on August 8, 2021.</p>

<p>India’s only Olympic gold medallist and now an entrepreneur, Abhinav Bindra, in an exclusive interview with WION’s Sports Editor Digvijay Singh Deo, opened up on the postponed Games, how Japan is going to overcome the setback and the cost of pushing the quadrennial event back by a year.</p>

<p>Bindra said that the decision to postpone was a real positive move by the IOC considering the situation surrounding the COVID-19 pandemic as the Padma Bhushan awardee said the athletes were getting really anxious due to the uncertainty surrounding the Games while adding the announcement comes&nbsp;a huge relief for the athletes. &nbsp; &nbsp;</p>

<p>“I think the decision has been made pretty quickly, only two weeks back there was a lot of uncertainty about the games getting postponed. The International Olympic Committee has taken a very prompt decision. They initially came up with a four-week deadline to make the call and didn't even use all of it and took a decision within 2 days. They have already revealed the new dates for the games in 2021 which is very good for the athletes. The athletes were getting extremely anxious due to the uncertainty surrounding the Games. They would have continued to train if the game were not postponed, thereby putting their lives and their families at risk. So it is a very good decision to postpone and I am happy it was taken very quickly,” Bindra told WION.</p>

<p>The decision to postpone the Olympics wasn’t easy at all. With a lot riding on the events, fresh logistical nightmares are bound to crop up after the Games were postponed by a year. The IOC has already indicated that the first priorities are the athletes’ village, venues and hotel bookings. &nbsp;</p>

<p>A decision to postpone the Olympic Games is not an easy one. There is just so much riding on the games and new logistical nightmares are bound to crop up when you push the Games back. Already the IOC has indicated that first priorities are the games village, sports venues and hotel bookings. However, Bindra is of the view that such a massive decision just can’t be taken by the IOC alone as it has to consult with all relevant stakeholders, government and sponsors before coming to a final decision.&nbsp;</p>

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<p>&nbsp;</p>

<h2><strong>"A&nbsp;timely decision was taken"</strong></h2>

<p>“The decision cannot just be taken by the IOC, they have to consult all the relevant stakeholders, those are the organising committee, the government, and the many sponsors. Putting together the Olympic Games is an extremely complex process, keeping that in mind I think the decision to delay the Games was taken very quickly. There was a little bit of pressure being built by the media, but given the stakeholders involved and the magnitude of the event, a timely decision was taken,” Bindra opined.</p>

<p>The estimated cost of pushing the Tokyo Olympics is being pegged at around $3 Billion to $6 Billion, hence, there were many stating that the Japanese taxpayer will have to bear the brunt. However, with Japan taking up the responsibility and agreeing to bear the cost of the postponements, they deserve to be lauded. Bindra said that the Tokyo Games had the best-prepared event ever while lauding the effort by everyone working behind the scenes.&nbsp;</p>

<p>"Japan needs to be lauded for agreeing to bear the cost of the postponement of the Games. Do remember that due to the virus the economic outlook is pretty bleak but they have not flinched. It is extremely commendable, especially during these tough economic times for them to do that. The Japanese people are extremely determined and the preparations to the games have probably been the best ever. All the venues were ready well before time and they have done a fantastic job. They remain committed to hosting the best ever Olympics and I hope to come next year that will be the case," Bindra said.&nbsp;<br />
&nbsp;</p>


The Tokyo Olympics were postponed by a year amid the COVID-19 pandemic. The International Olympic Committee (IOC) didn’t take much time to announce the rescheduled dates as the Games will now open on July 23, 2021, while the closing ceremony will be held on August 8, 2021.

The Tokyo Olympics were postponed by a year amid the COVID-19 pandemic. The International Olympic Committee (IOC) didn’t take much time to announce the rescheduled dates as the Games will now open on July 23, 2021, while the closing ceremony will be held on August 8, 2021. India’s only Olympic gold medallist and now an entrepreneur, Abhinav Bindra, in an exclusive interview with WION’s Sports Editor Digvijay Singh Deo, opened up on the postponed Games, how Japan is going to overcome the setback and the cost of pushing the quadrennial event back by a year. Bindra said that the decision to postpone was a real positive move by the IOC considering the situation surrounding the COVID-19 pandemic as the Padma Bhushan awardee said the athletes were getting really anxious due to the uncertainty surrounding the Games while adding the announcement comes a huge relief for the athletes. “I think the decision has been made pretty quickly, only two weeks back there was a lot of uncertainty about the games getting postponed. The International Olympic Committee has taken a very prompt decision. They initially came up with a four-week deadline to make the call and didn't even use all of it and took a decision within 2 days. They have already revealed the new dates for the games in 2021 which is very good for the athletes. The athletes were getting extremely anxious due to the uncertainty surrounding the Games. They would have continued to train if the game were not postponed, thereby putting their lives and their families at risk. So it is a very good decision to postpone and I am happy it was taken very quickly,” Bindra told WION. The decision to postpone the Olympics wasn’t easy at all. With a lot riding on the events, fresh logistical nightmares are bound to crop up after the Games were postponed by a year. The IOC has already indicated that the first priorities are the athletes’ village, venues and hotel bookings. A decision to postpone the Olympic Games is not an easy one. There is just so much riding on the games and new logistical nightmares are bound to crop up when you push the Games back. Already the IOC has indicated that first priorities are the games village, sports venues and hotel bookings. However, Bindra is of the view that such a massive decision just can’t be taken by the IOC alone as it has to consult with all relevant stakeholders, government and sponsors before coming to a final decision. × "A timely decision was taken" “The decision cannot just be taken by the IOC, they have to consult all the relevant stakeholders, those are the organising committee, the government, and the many sponsors. Putting together the Olympic Games is an extremely complex process, keeping that in mind I think the decision to delay the Games was taken very quickly. There was a little bit of pressure being built by the media, but given the stakeholders involved and the magnitude of the event, a timely decision was taken,” Bindra opined. The estimated cost of pushing the Tokyo Olympics is being pegged at around $3 Billion to $6 Billion, hence, there were many stating that the Japanese taxpayer will have to bear the brunt. However, with Japan taking up the responsibility and agreeing to bear the cost of the postponements, they deserve to be lauded. Bindra said that the Tokyo Games had the best-prepared event ever while lauding the effort by everyone working behind the scenes. "Japan needs to be lauded for agreeing to bear the cost of the postponement of the Games. Do remember that due to the virus the economic outlook is pretty bleak but they have not flinched. It is extremely commendable, especially during these tough economic times for them to do that. The Japanese people are extremely determined and the preparations to the games have probably been the best ever. All the venues were ready well before time and they have done a fantastic job. They remain committed to hosting the best ever Olympics and I hope to come next year that will be the case," Bindra said.

Exclusive: 'Timely decision was taken' - Abhinav Bindra on Tokyo Olympics postponement

India’s only individual Olympic champion Abhinav Bindra believes athletes the world over will have to adapt to changing circumstances to stay in shape for the 2021 Olympics...the international Olympic committee or IOC has pushed the start of the Tokyo games by exactly a year to July 23, 2021 which ends the prevailing uncertainty in the minds of Olympic hopefuls...Bindra was speaking exclusively to WION sports editor Digvijay Singh deo on our special show, WION sports broadband edition.

OLYMPIC CHAMP BINDRA CALLS ON ATHLETES WORLDWIDE TO ADAPT TO CHANGED CIRCUMSTANCES

<p>India's lone Olympic gold medallist Abhinav Bindra has announced that there will be no lay-offs in his two organizations amid the COVID-19 pandemic, which has sparked fears of a global recession.</p>

<p>The novel coronavirus has already claimed 18 lives in India while the global death toll has crossed 23,000.</p>

<p>I can't claim to do much as India fights the corona pandemic but, despite, the uncertainty I am committed to my team for the foreseeable future. I will</p>

<p>carry the load for as long as I can. Till we are back to helping our patients,athletes and clients," Bindra tweeted.</p>

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<p dir="ltr" lang="en">I can’t claim to do much as India fights the corona pandemic but, despite, the uncertainty I am committed to my team for the foreseeable future. I will carry the load for as long as I can. Till we are back to helping our patients,athletes and clients. <a href="https://twitter.com/abtpindia?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@abtpindia</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/abfoundationind?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@abfoundationind</a></p>
— Abhinav Bindra OLY (@Abhinav_Bindra) <a href="https://twitter.com/Abhinav_Bindra/status/1243442093311160320?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 27, 2020</a></blockquote>
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<p>&nbsp;</p>

<p>Bindra runs two separate entities -- Abhinav Bindra Foundation (ABF) and Facility for Physical Excellence (ABTP) which has multiple centres across India.&nbsp;</p>


India's lone Olympic gold medallist Abhinav Bindra has announced that there will be no lay-offs in his two organizations amid the COVID-19 pandemic, which has sparked fears of a global recession.

India's lone Olympic gold medallist Abhinav Bindra has announced that there will be no lay-offs in his two organizations amid the COVID-19 pandemic, which has sparked fears of a global recession. The novel coronavirus has already claimed 18 lives in India while the global death toll has crossed 23,000. I can't claim to do much as India fights the corona pandemic but, despite, the uncertainty I am committed to my team for the foreseeable future. I will carry the load for as long as I can. Till we are back to helping our patients,athletes and clients," Bindra tweeted. I can’t claim to do much as India fights the corona pandemic but, despite, the uncertainty I am committed to my team for the foreseeable future. I will carry the load for as long as I can. Till we are back to helping our patients,athletes and clients. @abtpindia @abfoundationind — Abhinav Bindra OLY (@Abhinav_Bindra) March 27, 2020 × Bindra runs two separate entities -- Abhinav Bindra Foundation (ABF) and Facility for Physical Excellence (ABTP) which has multiple centres across India.

COVID-19: Entrepreneur Abhinav Bindra vows to stand by his 'team'

<p>Odisha Government on Monday inaugurated its first high-performance centre in the state for realizing its dream of becoming a global sports destination.</p>

<p>With intent to provide quality sport in the State, this high-performance centre is established by professional shooter Abhinav Bindra's 'Abhinav Futuristics Pvt&nbsp;Ltd'&nbsp;with the help of Government of Odisha.</p>

<p>The centre was inaugurated by Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik in the presence of Bindra.</p>

<p>Speaking about the inauguration, Chief Minister Patnaik said, "the inauguration of this HPC will encourage athletes to use Sports Science to enhance their performance. Coaching has always been good in Odisha, but now with best available technology, our athletes will have access to a state-of-the-art, world-class sports medicine and rehab setup.''</p>

<p>The founder of the ABTP Centre, Abhinav Bindra stated, “The ABTP Centre’s have been made with the aim of encouraging athletes to use Sports Science to add value to their training routine. With cutting edge technology from all over the world in physiology, biomechanics, functional training and recovery we aspire to take the best care of the athletes with us."</p>

<p>The centre’s services would include performance enhancement, injury prevention, and management, biomechanics, physiology testing and training, recovery, as well as strength and conditioning training.</p>

<p>The ABTP Centre will be open to athletes from February, 19th.&nbsp;</p>


Odisha Government on Monday inaugurated its first high-performance centre in the state for realizing its dream of becoming a global sports destination. With intent to provide quality sport in the State, this high-performance centre is established by professional shooter Abhinav Bindra's 'Abhinav Futuristics Pvt Ltd' with the help of Government of Odisha.

Odisha Government on Monday inaugurated its first high-performance centre in the state for realizing its dream of becoming a global sports destination. With intent to provide quality sport in the State, this high-performance centre is established by professional shooter Abhinav Bindra's 'Abhinav Futuristics Pvt Ltd' with the help of Government of Odisha. The centre was inaugurated by Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik in the presence of Bindra. Speaking about the inauguration, Chief Minister Patnaik said, "the inauguration of this HPC will encourage athletes to use Sports Science to enhance their performance. Coaching has always been good in Odisha, but now with best available technology, our athletes will have access to a state-of-the-art, world-class sports medicine and rehab setup.'' The founder of the ABTP Centre, Abhinav Bindra stated, “The ABTP Centre’s have been made with the aim of encouraging athletes to use Sports Science to add value to their training routine. With cutting edge technology from all over the world in physiology, biomechanics, functional training and recovery we aspire to take the best care of the athletes with us." The centre’s services would include performance enhancement, injury prevention, and management, biomechanics, physiology testing and training, recovery, as well as strength and conditioning training. The ABTP Centre will be open to athletes from February, 19th.

Odisha: State’s first high-performance centre inaugurated

<p>Olympic gold medalist <a href="http://www.wionews.com/search?q=Abhinav+Bindra">Abhinav Bindra</a>&nbsp;has become the first Indian to receive&nbsp;the highest shooting honour, The Blue Cross, for his contribution to the game. The Blue Cross is the highest recognition granted by shooting's world body, International Shooting Sport Federation (ISSF).</p>

<p>Blue Cross is awarded for an excellent contribution to the sport of shooting to the distinguished members of the international shooting fraternity.</p>

<p>The 36-year-old had made the country proud at the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games when he became the first Indian to win an individual gold medal at the Olympic Games. Bindra clinched the elusive metal in the 10 metre Air Rifle event. &nbsp;</p>

<p>Bindra narrowly missed his second Olympic medal at the 2016 Games in Rio de Janeiro at the age of 33 years and after that he announced retirement from the game.</p>

<p>After receiving the honour, Bindra twitted, " Extremely humbled to receive the @ISSF_Shooting ‘s highest honour the Blue Cross at the General Assembly in Munich today."</p>

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<p dir="ltr" lang="en">Extremely humbled to receive the <a href="https://twitter.com/ISSF_Shooting?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@ISSF_Shooting</a> ‘s highest honour the Blue Cross at the General Assembly in Munich today. <a href="https://t.co/pNNgQWxT5L">pic.twitter.com/pNNgQWxT5L</a></p>
— Abhinav Bindra OLY (@Abhinav_Bindra) <a href="https://twitter.com/Abhinav_Bindra/status/1068480086716887041?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">November 30, 2018</a></blockquote>
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<p>He received India's highest sports honour, Rajiv Gandhi Khel Ratna Award, in 2001 after receiving Arjuna Award in 2000.</p>

<p>In 2009,&nbsp;he received India's third-highest civilian award, the Padma Bhushan.</p>


Olympic gold medalist Abhinav Bindra has become the first Indian to receive the highest shooting honour, The Blue Cross, for his contribution to the game. The Blue Cross is the highest recognition granted by shooting's world body, International Shooting Sport Federation (ISSF).

Olympic gold medalist Abhinav Bindra has become the first Indian to receive the highest shooting honour, The Blue Cross, for his contribution to the game. The Blue Cross is the highest recognition granted by shooting's world body, International Shooting Sport Federation (ISSF). Blue Cross is awarded for an excellent contribution to the sport of shooting to the distinguished members of the international shooting fraternity. The 36-year-old had made the country proud at the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games when he became the first Indian to win an individual gold medal at the Olympic Games. Bindra clinched the elusive metal in the 10 metre Air Rifle event. Bindra narrowly missed his second Olympic medal at the 2016 Games in Rio de Janeiro at the age of 33 years and after that he announced retirement from the game. After receiving the honour, Bindra twitted, " Extremely humbled to receive the @ISSF_Shooting ‘s highest honour the Blue Cross at the General Assembly in Munich today." Extremely humbled to receive the @ISSF_Shooting ‘s highest honour the Blue Cross at the General Assembly in Munich today. pic.twitter.com/pNNgQWxT5L — Abhinav Bindra OLY (@Abhinav_Bindra) November 30, 2018 × He received India's highest sports honour, Rajiv Gandhi Khel Ratna Award, in 2001 after receiving Arjuna Award in 2000. In 2009, he received India's third-highest civilian award, the Padma Bhushan.

Abhinav Bindra feels 'extremely humbled' after receiving highest shooting honour

<p>Olympic gold medallist Abhinav Bindra on Friday resigned as the&nbsp;National Observer for shooting as well as Chairman of the Target Olympic Podium (TOP) scheme&#39;s Identification Committee.</p>

<p>The shooting legend took this decision to avoid any potential &#39;conflict of interest&#39; charge arising out of his association with private sports projects.</p>

<p>Bindra took to his Twitter account to announce his decision and also posted the letter he wrote to Union Sports Minister Rajyavardhan Singh Rathore.</p>

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<p dir="ltr" lang="en">New years come with exciting new prospects. Will be looking to expand and run <a href="https://twitter.com/abhinavbindratp?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@abhinavbindratp</a> centres across the country and make them accessible to our athletes. Will be resigning public posts of Govt Observer shooting and</p>
&mdash; Abhinav Bindra (@Abhinav_Bindra) <a href="https://twitter.com/Abhinav_Bindra/status/944201504700825601?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 22, 2017</a></blockquote>
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<p dir="ltr" lang="en">Chairman TOP Scheme Athlete Identification Committee with immediate effect. I thank the <a href="https://twitter.com/IndiaSports?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@IndiaSports</a> for the opportunity provided to serve. I will always remain accessible to any fellow athlete and look forward to what 2018 holds.</p>
&mdash; Abhinav Bindra (@Abhinav_Bindra) <a href="https://twitter.com/Abhinav_Bindra/status/944201508182044672?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 22, 2017</a></blockquote>
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<p>In his letter, Bindra informed he would be deeply associating himself with private projects while expanding his own &#39;Abhinav Bindra Targeting Performance&#39; (ABTP) centres across India.</p>

<p>He added it would be prudent on his part to disassociate himself from the two government positions. The Indian shooter further asked the minister to relieve him so that the sanctity of these two posts is retained.&nbsp;</p>

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<p dir="ltr" lang="und"><a href="https://t.co/wpKtWYR5Rj">pic.twitter.com/wpKtWYR5Rj</a></p>
&mdash; Abhinav Bindra (@Abhinav_Bindra) <a href="https://twitter.com/Abhinav_Bindra/status/944201530042806273?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 22, 2017</a></blockquote>
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<p>Bindra&#39;s resignation has brought down the number of national observers to 9 from the originally appointed 12 Olympians.<br />
&nbsp;</p>


Bindra took this decision to avoid any 'conflict of interest' charge arising out of his association with private sports projects

Olympic gold medallist Abhinav Bindra on Friday resigned as the National Observer for shooting as well as Chairman of the Target Olympic Podium (TOP) scheme's Identification Committee. The shooting legend took this decision to avoid any potential 'conflict of interest' charge arising out of his association with private sports projects. Bindra took to his Twitter account to announce his decision and also posted the letter he wrote to Union Sports Minister Rajyavardhan Singh Rathore. New years come with exciting new prospects. Will be looking to expand and run @abhinavbindratp centres across the country and make them accessible to our athletes. Will be resigning public posts of Govt Observer shooting and — Abhinav Bindra (@Abhinav_Bindra) December 22, 2017 × Chairman TOP Scheme Athlete Identification Committee with immediate effect. I thank the @IndiaSports for the opportunity provided to serve. I will always remain accessible to any fellow athlete and look forward to what 2018 holds. — Abhinav Bindra (@Abhinav_Bindra) December 22, 2017 × In his letter, Bindra informed he would be deeply associating himself with private projects while expanding his own 'Abhinav Bindra Targeting Performance' (ABTP) centres across India. He added it would be prudent on his part to disassociate himself from the two government positions. The Indian shooter further asked the minister to relieve him so that the sanctity of these two posts is retained. pic.twitter.com/wpKtWYR5Rj — Abhinav Bindra (@Abhinav_Bindra) December 22, 2017 × Bindra's resignation has brought down the number of national observers to 9 from the originally appointed 12 Olympians.

Abhinav Bindra resigns from two 'govt posts' to focus on 'private projects'

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