Rio de Janeiro, Aug 8: 2008 Olympic Gold Medallist Abhinav Bindra on Monday failed to win medal for India in Men’s 10m Air Rifle Shooting at Rio Olympics 2016. Abhinav Bindra, who started the third day well and secured 7th position after five rounds, managed to bag fourth spot in the finals. Unfortunately, Abhinav Bindra’s quest for second Olympic medal ended in a heartbreak defeat. Bindra, the country’s lone individual Olympic gold medallist, in his emotional farewell statement summed up his feelings.”Someone had to come fourth and today it was my turn. I am happy with the way I shot and ended career,” said Abhinav Bindra after missing the medal. The 33-year-old Indian, who won a gold in 2008 Beijing Olympics in the same event, lost the shoot-off against Ukrainian Serhiy Kulish after both were tied for third place at 163.8 points after 16 shots. The glorious career of Bindra, who was playing in his fifth and final Olympics, ended at a very sad note. (ALSO READ: Rio Olympics 2016 India: Schedule, Fixtures of Events in IST)
Abhinav Bindra was fourth at first elimination round but jumped to second after the second elimination round. The star Indian shooter scored a fantastic 10.7 in his 11th shot to jump to second spot but moved back to third after the third elimination round. Two mediocre shots took him to fourth spot after the fourth elimination round but he bounced back in the next round with scores of 10.6 and 10.2. But that was not enough for Bindra to stay clear in the top three as he was tied at third spot with Ukrainian Kulish at 163.8 points. (ALSO READ: Rio Olympics 2016: Full list of India’s 120 athletes who qualified this year’s for Rio Olympics)
After Abhinav Bindra’s heartbreak exit from Rio Olympics, here’s how sportsmen of various stream reacted:
Well tried and hard luck in #Rio2016. We are proud of all your achievements @Abhinav_Bindra and what you have done for India.
— sachin tendulkar (@sachin_rt) August 8, 2016
Excruciating to watch… Great effort by abhinav bindra to finish 4th.. Closest we have come to a medal so far…
— Somdev Devvarman (@SomdevD) August 8, 2016
Abhinav,you are and will always be an inspiration for young India. My hats off to you for your valiant effort @Abhinav_Bindra @narendramodi
— Rajyavardhan Rathore (@Ra_THORe) August 8, 2016
Thank you @Abhinav_Bindra for giving your fellow sportspersons belief. #FarewellLegend
— Digvijay Singh Deo (@DiggySinghDeo) August 8, 2016
From 7th rank to tie on 3rd & lost – Heartbreaking! Yet well played Abhinav Bindra. #FarewellTime
— Ravinder Singh (@_RavinderSingh_) August 8, 2016
Goodbye legend @Abhinav_Bindra. You made us feel good to be Indian.
— Harsha Bhogle (@bhogleharsha) August 8, 2016
Fourth…no medal to show for the effort. But we are still proud of you, Abhinav Bindra. #Olympics #IND
— Aakash Chopra (@cricketaakash) August 8, 2016
Earlier in the day, Abhinav Bindra had qualified for the finals at seventh spot while London Olympics bronze-medallist Gagan Narang missed out after finishing at a lowly 23rd position. Bindra had scored 625.7 to book a berth in the finals. This is the only event Bindra is competing in the ongoing Olympics.