New Delhi: At 25 he is a reigning world champion and India's first-ever individual Olympic gold medal winner but shooter Abhinav Bindra said on Thursday he would find energy and motivation to repeat his feat again.
"I hope to stay on top for a while. Everything that goes up has to come down but I can still try (to maintain the top position)," Bindra said in New Delhi.
Asked how he would motivate himself to go further after having won the world championships and the Olympic gold medal, Bindra said, "I will take a break and find the energy and motivation to do it again."
The shooter, who returned home to a tumultuous reception earlier in the day, said he was feeling overwhelmed by the welcome he got at the airport because he did not expect it.
"I had absolutely not expected it and I am overwhelmed," he said.
Not the one to be overwhelmed by the occasion, the Chandigarh pro said, "it is really hard to say how I am feeling and the truth is at the moment I am numb."
"I am very proud of this moment not only for myself but also for the country," said Bindra accompanied by his coach Lt Col (retd) J S Dhillon and mental coach Amit Bhattacharya.
Bindra, at his first formal interaction with the media since winning the gold, gave ample proof of his level-headedness when questions were produced about his achievement, comparisons with other shooters like Rajyavardhan Singh Rathore and Samresh Jung who failed in Beijing and his future plans.
"Winning and losing is all part of the game. There is not much of a difference. 10 meter air rifle is a slippery sport with competition and I am very happy that have been able to produce result on the given day," Bindra said.
To a question about Rathore and Jung's performance, he said, "everyone who is there has put in his best effort, a really honest effort. So, whoever is there has the realistic chance of winning a medal."
The marksman said his victory was special in the backdrop of Athens Olympics heartbreak.
"This being my third Olympics, experience was also a big factor since I knew what an competition was all about... the journey has definitely been a long one and it is a fact that I tried everything possible, experimented liberally that really helped when it mattered most. There is nothing more I could have done in terms of training, competition and mind-set and I was really prepared," he said.
Bindra hoped his achievement would bring about the positive change in the mindset and management of Indian sports and make winning a habit.
Dedicating his medal to the fellow athletes, Bindra asked them to believe that scaling the summit "is a possibility and they should bring many more laurels to the country."
"I would like this achievement to bring about the positive change in the management and mindset of Indian sports and I would really like to get back not only to air rifle but to the whole Indian sporting management so that we can make winning a habit," he said.
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