Indian television Monday was dominated by the news that Abhinav Bindra had claimed the men's 10-meter air rifle shooting title at the Beijing Olympics.
From the President and Prime Minister to people on the street, everyone lauded Bindra for securing the country's first-ever gold medal in an individual event on Monday.
Sports Minister M.S. Gill told Indian television it was a big step forward for Indian athletics.
"They feel I think one foot taller today, and every Indian does. This is something very big and very special, " Gill said.
India has reason to celebrate. The eight Olympic gold medals it has were won years ago in hockey. Even in that sport it has faded away - its hockey team failed to qualify for Beijing.
Before Bindra's win, India had only four individual Olympic medals - the latest a silver in Athens in 2004.
The dismal performance raised an agonized cry every four years - why does a nation of a billion plus people, which has produced world class professionals and technocrats, fail to achieve in sports? More...
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