Abhinav Bindra's Road to Beijing

firstly i have to apologize for being MIA for the past few days i had some trouble with the internet connection in my house and so have been cut off...

Finally got home yesterday cocooned in Z-plus security. There is supposed to be a threat to my safety. As to why anyone would be interested in killing a shooter who has spent the last 12 years of his life shooting and successfully hitting a 0.5mm bulls eye from 10m away escapes me. Possibly I could just invite these fellows over for a shooting match... be it with a bb gun ;)
So I got over the fact that I have Z-plus and was actually thrilled to be home since its been more than 6 weeks. I was itching to play with my close buddies chotu and buddy. The fellas have really grown and did seem unusually excited to meet me at first. But soon enough they were back to doing doggy things with their usual disregard for my commands. Looks like the medallion around my neck does not have them too enthralled.
Since I now seem to be able to throw my weight (all 60 kilos of it) around, I tried it with the fur-balls assuming they would be far more obedient after my Olympics gold. Hey! I even tried waving that medal in front of their noses and they for one second thought it was some kind of treat but after sniffing at it were absolutely disinterested.
It was a bit of a relief to be honest -- somethings don't and should not change.

So independence day was all the more vibrant as akhil kumar made us all proud.... I was really excited especially since he was another athlete who was down with a career threatening injury and so his resurrection is all the more impressive.
As i have said so many times before ALL our athletes are there giving their hearts out and some win and some lose but that doesn't belittle their effort in any way.
So now i am again praying for some more boxing success today with Jitender Kumar and Vijender fighting also for places in the quarters. Then on Monday spend the day on the edge of my seat waiting for my compatriots to bring home the hardware.
Wow how life has changed, just a week ago i was this guy walking around the village with few people even knowing what i was doing. I was often sitting around my room and actually getting bored, and now i am spending my time hoping i can go back to being that same guy.
Anyway I am now turning my focus and positive vibes to the pugilists.... COME ON INDIA!!!!

I have just finished two grueling days of meeting everyone i possibly could and i now am actually feeling that i can relax a little and actually watch the rest of the people. I know it is independence day and i am hoping we can keep the campaign for a few more medals going.
I am going to spend the today rooting on Gagan, Sanjeev, Mahesh, Leander, Akhil and if i have forgotten someone i apologize but will be cheering for all our people.
I hope we get through with positive results but am sure that the days forward we will have another one of our great athletes to celebrate about and i am looking forward to that.

I won the gold and my world has exploded. I like to keep to my self with my familiar comforts. While the attention is flattering, at the same time there is this constant glare of scrutiny which I can really do without. I am so looking forward to being home in my familiar comfort zone. I have flirted with the idea of donning a disguise and running away for a month till the euphoria passes and life gets to normal. Unfortunately that’s not an option just as of now. But hey, it’s a fun fantasy.
I am happy to know that air guns are running off the shelves across India. From the many will come the few who can be groomed to go all the way. However, I would like to caution all potential shooters out there that firearms are not toys. Prudence is essential in their use. Please be careful not to cause hurt to any living creature.

So it is now over and the time for me to return home has arrived. I know my life is not goign to be even close to the same upon return but it is something i am going to have to embrace and actually enjoy which i am at this moment finding way more daunting than shooting...
The truth is i am scared because it is not somethign i am familiar it but i would like to take this opportunity to thank all my fans and all my well wishers who have rooted for me and all those who have left such kind comments on the blog page as well.
i have finished reading all the comments but i am hoping to catch up once i am home and the media hype dies down.
I also want to wish the other participating the best of luck...although i am not going to be around seeing them at the village i will be definitely rooting for them from back home. I am hoping we cna come back with some more medals because we have all worked so hard and really deserve some more.

More than the joy, elation, euphoria my strongest feeling is a release from a thousand kilo weight that has been daunting me for the last 12 years.
I am really really happy that i could deliver for my country and all the indian athletes who are trying and working just as hard as me.
I have a strong feeling that we are going to win more medals at these games and it is going to be great to be able to watch my compatriots without any thoughts like my training and event off my mind.
I really hope this is the beginning of a journey of many more medals for India and glory for our great country and its people.