My heartiest congratulations to Abhinav Bindra for winning the Gold Medal in 10meter Air Rifle event. It is indeed a rare feet. Abhinav richly deserves all the attention and felicitation.
Kudos Abhinav! And very good luck for future, may you keep on doing us proud for the long time to come.
Amen!
Of course it is indeed a mater of pride for all Indians and I do not want to spoil the party, yet I am hardly in a mood to go on the celebration binge since One Individual Indian has won One Gold Medal, in an Individual Event in past 28 years!
Just as I am punching keys, my TV set tuned to some so called ‘News Channel’ is blaring out “Chak De India…Chak de India….” every 30 seconds punctuated with another 30 seconds of commercial break!
Though nothing wrong in praising Abhinav for this ‘achievement’ but what the fuck is “Chak de India” all about? What is this ‘euphoria’?
Is winning an Individual Gold Medal in 28 years for a BILLION PLUS nation is “Chak De India’!
Or is it that we know that we did not expect any Indian to go this far because we know how ‘pathetic’ our record in International Sport arena has been!
Is this “Chak de India” moment? Just because, one Individual through his own efforts excelled in an individual sport, not because he is an Indian but because his “Despite Being an Indian”!
“Blood Stained Olympic” is still on and I pray and hope to be ‘Pleasantly Surprised’ with many many more ‘rebuffs’ to my embedded cynicism. Nevertheless, I am just as optimistic as any of you are. 
Hundredths time I heard them again “Chak de India”…- other NEWS CHANNELS are equally ecstatic if not more- I am not sure if it really mean “Chuck India”!
Congrats to Abhinav once again, and time for other Indians to ponder.
PI.
1. Winning is a habit and it is contagious! That is why when one kid wins an event in school, many more also win in subsequent inter-school events. The loosing is also a collective habit and that is why we normally see one or two individual victories, but in general we remain a medal-starved society… This is also the reason why some societies where winning is promoted, people are so much action oriented and want to achieve everything in life… Because, this is contagious. And this is why, even Abhinav’s victory should be welcomed as a spirit booster to the whole India…
2. Individual or team victories, doesn’t matter much, until it is the Indian representation that is returning back from China with a gold medal.
3. Indians love Gold, historically also
There is something in “Gold” that really clears all the darkness around us… Yes, not silver or a mediocre bronze. It is GOLD!
4. News channels wait for days and weeks before they get to get something like this… So, of course they will over-play the Chak De moments….
5. Historically, India has done not well in Olympics, that is why we still remember and cherish the moment when Kapil Dev and team won the WC Cricket. And when PT Usha won in Asian Games… We have so few great moments! This is exactly why we should all celebrate this victory – as not the victory of one Abhinav, but all the India that is inside Abhinav…
6. Yes, it is a blood-stained Olympics. I think I will dream one night that all the Gold medals that China wins disappear because the President of China wants them to be melted and casted into a small small … ummmm… bells! And they gift those to the soldiers who kept the Tibetans quite during all the days in the Games…
Guys, let the victorious feeling sink in for a moment!..plz don’t start firing those advices atleast for the time being!…btw…It is the first INDIVIDUAL OLYMPIC GOLD for an indian since the day of olympics and not since 1980 as stated!…we have won only team golds before!..never an individual gold!…And a sincere request to those 24*7 channels!…No CHAK DE INDIA comments PLZ!..it feels totally out of place!..HAIL the HERO OF THE SOIL “ABHINAV”!…
Hey! Just let us enjoy for today. We will do analysis on some other day!!
I agree with PI completely. Its almost like we always in the waiting for a malleswari, a rajvardhan singh rathod or a bindra. I hope Saina gets a medal. I hope other atheletes too make it to podium. I hope atleast this time we cross double digit in total medal tally. I hope atleast this time our guys do well and get enough sponsors after the games. I hope atleast this time, our guys bring about the balance that has been missing w.r.t sporting interests of people of our country. I hope atleast this time we see the change we have all been thirsty of.
Its not enough to just hope and pray
Did you even think India would win a medal, let alone a gold? Did you have faith in our athletes? Had you actually heard of Abhinav before today?
We at iwebie [http://www.iwebie.com/abhinav-bindra-wins-gold-at-beijing-2008-olympics]
have been discussing and debating India’s chnaces at the 2008 olympics. While most Tv channels were lamenting india’s poor show,we have been praying and discussing ways to improve India’s Sports scenario. More than 100 India sports enthusiasts debated India’ medal hopes and chances. Read about all the sentiments and emotions of the people here [http://www.iwebie.com/indias-2008-beijing-olympics-dreams]
Abhinav Bindra clinches India’s first gold. Congrats Abhinav. You have made the Country Extremely proud. Just watched your video here http://www.iwebie.com/abhinav-bindra-wins-gold-at-beijing-2008-olympics and its simply superb.
Abhinav should check his medal if it indeed is made of gold, after all its ‘Made in China’.
Just kidding, congratulations to Abhinav!
This is a historic moment for India. Time to rejoice ! An individual has done this nation of a billion plus very proud. Why are so many of us letting cynicism take over this very special moment ? There is no doubt that our sporting heroes are largely on the podium because of their personal commitment, hardwork and focus rather than being a product of a system that churns out winners. It is good to remind ourselves of that but please do not allow that to negatively impact this celebratory moment.
Abhinav, we are all very very proud of your achievement. We all hope your individual excellence will start a movement that will see India doing well in all Olympic sports in the years to come. Olympics in the past have been a time for us to appreciate what human beings (of other nations) can achieve. Today onwards, rather than have an outsiders view of Olympics, all Indians will start believing that we can do it too at the Olympic level…system shortcomings notwithstanding!
The nation salutes you Abhinav Bindra !
Congrats and Great work Abhinav Bindra.
Every Indian should take time & think what Abhinav Bindra first said after winning gold medal:
“I sincerely hope this win will change the face of Olympic sport in India. In India, Olympic sport is not really a priority, so I hope Olympic sports in general can get more attention.”
Abhinav has opened the door. Wishing
all the best to every Indian.
http://inspiromania.wordpress.com/
visited your blog
Congratulation Abhinav for winning the Gold. Well done. I am very happy for you.
PI.
Right you are in your skepticism , yes i agree with must ponder why we took 118 years to score first individual Gold.
Though stirring post PI
I am becoming a fan of yours.
keep it up.
NM.
Congrtas to Bindra. Good Job Bindra keep it up.
PI
Nice post, liked it.
kirti
Excellent performance by Abhinav, all kudos to him for doing India proud. I hope it is just the beginning of many many more achievements to follow. Good luck and all the best.
for PI yes, an individual brilliance does not warrant the chak de India media hype yet it is cause to celebrate, agree with you it is time to do some introspection too.
nikhil above has a point.
Abha Sharma
Ganganagar, Raj.
O Ji Abhinav Tusi Great Ho, oye ho tou na Punjabi ji.
Lakh Lakh Vadiyaan.
Dil Khush kar Dita, Rub lambi umar deve tey hor hor tarraki karo.
Or tusi v PI ji, o yaar tusvi tey ho he great.
muuuuah!
heheheheheheheh!
I am thinking of PT Usha and her absolute determination, perseverance without even half the resources of Abhinav Bindra or even Anju Bobby George. Indians ought to be ashamed of themselves. I remember that PT Usha got a lunch packet of rice and vegetables from the government and on those meagre rations she performed.
I have always hated cricket and absolutely loathe its hold on the Indian imagination let alone Indian pockets.
I know this has been the official Blog of Abhinav Bindra:
http://abhinavbindra.blogspot.com/
I wished him there… Read him there friends…
[...] said this, I still reiterate what I said in my earlier post ‘Congratulations Abhinav Bindra’ that these Brave Winners have won and done us proud ‘not because of Indian Sport Administration’ [...]
Congratulations, we in the UK are proud of your gold medal