Abhinav Bindra, an active shooting professional and the ambassador for the Tata Steel Kolkata 25K Event, revealed that in order to maintain his physical fitness, he ran 10 kilometers five days a week. He won the 10 m air rifle event at the 2008 Beijing Olympics.

Abhinav was moved by the city’s support while he was in Kolkata for the seventh Tata Steel Kolkata 25K 2022 edition and sent his best wishes to the competitors.

“Seeing it develop each year is so heartwarming. Living in the moment, taking in the experience, having a great time, and being content are all important” added Abhinav.

According to Abhinav, the sport has taught him to win, fight and respect his opponents.

“I have always held a special place in my heart for the Olympics. It focuses on the journey we take. Although there will be ups and downs, you should appreciate the adventure. I participated in a sport that demanded cardiovascular health. Your heart beats quickly when you are under pressure or shooting. Only when you are in good physical shape can you handle this pressure. I used to work out for hours at the gym to stay in shape, and I ran 10 kilometers five days a week to improve my cardiovascular fitness,” Abhinav said.

When discussing the current batch of Indian shooters and their chances of taking home Olympic gold, he remarked, “Despite the fact that we did not get any medal at the Tokyo Olympics, I am confident that we will do admirably at the Olympics in Paris in 2024. We have talented people in our nation, and the least we can do is give them all of our support. In India, the sport has expanded. The number of participants in National Shooting has increased from 200 to somewhere over 10,000. This demonstrates progress”.

“I am supporting Argentina in the present Football World Cup. Because of his incredible talent, Messi deserves to win the world cup before he hangs up his boots” added Abhinav with a smile.

Video link of the press conference- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vFMsBU1Gmwc

Priyanka Dutta