President Pratibha Patil, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and leaders across the political class on Monday 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.Lavishing full-some praise on Bindra, they said his achievement would inspire other sportspersons to reach the pinnacle of any sports at the international level.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 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 said Bindra has done the country proud.Sports Minister M S Gill said Bindra’s medal “is really the beginning for India and I am sure in future there will be many more to come.”The Sports Minister was particularly impressed with the way Bindra came back to win the gold after a spine injury.“To come back after injury and do what he has done is amazing. He was calm and composed throughout the event. That’s what you need in such a back stage,” he said.
