New Delhi, August 11
President Pratibha Patil, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and leaders across the political class today hailed the gold medal winning feat of shooter Abhinav Bindra, saying it would be an inspiration to youths to take up sports as a full-time career.
President Patil said, "Bindra has realised the dream of a billion people" and his achievement "is even greater as not only has India won a gold medal at the Olympics after a very long gap of 28 years but also because you have become the first ever Indian to win a gold medal at the Olympics in an event."
She said Bindra's achievement "should inspire confidence among all Indian sportspersons that they can achieve the pinnacle of any sports at the international level and be also an inspiration for more of our youths to take up sports as a full-time career".
Vice-President Hamid Ansari said Bindra's "singular achievement is an inspiration for all Indian sportspersons and has made the country proud."
Prime Minister Manmohan Singh said the shooter has "done the nation proud through his spectacular achievement which I hope will inspire you and other sportspersons of our country to achieve the highest levels of excellence in the international arena".
Lok Sabha Speaker Somnath Chatterjee today congratulated Abhinav Bindra.
The Delhi Cabinet today congratulated Abhinav Bindra for winning an Olympic gold.
At meeting of the Cabinet, chaired by Delhi Chief Minister Sheila Dikshit, Dikshit said the Delhi Cabinet has expressed its immense pleasure and joy over the spectacular performance of Abhinav Bindra, who has brought laurels to the country.
“The entire country is proud of Abhinav, who has won a gold medal in an individual event for the country after 108 years of inception of the modern Olympics. The cabinet appreciates the hard work and commitment of Abhinav Bindra, which has brought this immemorable feat for the country,” Dikshit said in her congratulatory message.
Expressing their happiness over Abhinav Bindra's victory, the BJP today said the victory had ended India's 28-year-long gold medal drought at the Olympics.
Leader of Opposition L K Advani and BJP president Rajnath Singh in their separate statements expressed the party's happiness over Bindra's sterling achievement.
“I join the countrymen hoping that our sportspersons will bring several more medals both in individual and team events,” Advani said. Rajnath Singh said that Bindra had added a golden chapter to the history of Indian sports by winning the first ever gold in individual category at the Olympic Games.
