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Medallist attacks India officials | Medallist attacks India officials |
(41 minutes later) | |
India's Olympic champion shooter Abhinav Bindra has hit out at the nation's sports coaches and officials, saying they "know nothing" about sport. | India's Olympic champion shooter Abhinav Bindra has hit out at the nation's sports coaches and officials, saying they "know nothing" about sport. |
"Indian athletes have no respect for most officials," the 26-year-old told the Times of India. | "Indian athletes have no respect for most officials," the 26-year-old told the Times of India. |
India won their best ever haul, a gold and two bronze medals, in Beijing. | India won their best ever haul, a gold and two bronze medals, in Beijing. |
But Bindra, who won gold in the 10m air rifle event, said there was "no magic solution" to make the underperforming nation a sporting power. | But Bindra, who won gold in the 10m air rifle event, said there was "no magic solution" to make the underperforming nation a sporting power. |
'No vision' | |
"If we want to get to double digits, we need to target 2016 and start working from today," he said. | "If we want to get to double digits, we need to target 2016 and start working from today," he said. |
"But the respective federations have no vision and I don't see that changing. I wish I had a magic solution but unfortunately, I don't. The IOA has to play a role in building athletes. It does nothing." | "But the respective federations have no vision and I don't see that changing. I wish I had a magic solution but unfortunately, I don't. The IOA has to play a role in building athletes. It does nothing." |
But most officials, and many of the so-called coaches who travel with the teams, know nothing about the sport Abhinav Bindra Abhinav Bindra: Reticent championBindra claims India's first gold | But most officials, and many of the so-called coaches who travel with the teams, know nothing about the sport Abhinav Bindra Abhinav Bindra: Reticent championBindra claims India's first gold |
Bindra made his comments to the Times of India after being invited to edit the national paper's Friday edition. | Bindra made his comments to the Times of India after being invited to edit the national paper's Friday edition. |
He said Indian athletes had to "be on good terms with officials because one needs to survive". | He said Indian athletes had to "be on good terms with officials because one needs to survive". |
"But most officials, and many of the so-called coaches who travel with the teams, know nothing about the sport. | "But most officials, and many of the so-called coaches who travel with the teams, know nothing about the sport. |
"The athletes don't talk about this because their careers are at stake. And the officials unfortunately don't care." | "The athletes don't talk about this because their careers are at stake. And the officials unfortunately don't care." |
He also revealed that he had to fund his travel to Beijing from his training base in Germany, because Indian Olympic officials refused to pay. | He also revealed that he had to fund his travel to Beijing from his training base in Germany, because Indian Olympic officials refused to pay. |
Bindra also took a swipe at the country's cricket-obsessed media, saying Olympic sports did not get the publicity they deserved. | Bindra also took a swipe at the country's cricket-obsessed media, saying Olympic sports did not get the publicity they deserved. |
"Why not just rename the sports pages 'cricket pages'?," he asked. | "Why not just rename the sports pages 'cricket pages'?," he asked. |
All of India's eight previous Olympic golds came in the field hockey tournament. | All of India's eight previous Olympic golds came in the field hockey tournament. |
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