New Delhi: India star shooter Abhinav Bindra holds a significant place in the sport’s history of the country. His gold medal in the 2008 Olympics became such an inspiration for youngsters of the country. Kids read his name in the GK books as he remained the only Indian to clinch the gold medal in an individual sport until last year.
After 14 years, Bindra revealed the secret of his performance and said that India cricketer Rahul Dravid played a huge role.
Here’s How Rahul Dravid helped Abhinav Bindra to get gold
7 months before the Beijing Olympics 2008, Dravid played a Test knock against Australia that was the ultimate presentation of his patience and focus. However, it left many frustrated including the audience and bowlers. Dravid played 40 consecutive dot balls and then took a single. This act got a standing ovation on his single run from the ground and Rahul raised his bat in the air.
While talking on the ‘In the Zone’ podcast, “I want to talk about one particular inning of yours which had a big role to play in my career by the way. For me, it was your most important innings because it taught me a lot… It was the game where you scored one run after 40 consecutive dot balls.”
“It was January 2008. It was the Olympics year. I was there (in Australia) for a fitness camp. And at that point time in my career, I was struggling a little bit to get my first shot off in competition… because I used to be really nervous, my heart rate used to be really high and I used to be impatient sometimes and just go after it quickly and it was most disastrous for me.”
“So, I watched you in this game on TV. Just showing immense amount of patience for 40 consecutive balls and that taught me so much. So I want to thank you. That innings had a big role to play… in Indian sports history because it helped in that Olympic season,” he added.
Head coach Dravid gave a short reply to the story and said, “I am glad somebody benefitted from that… It was a bit torturous really for lot of the people watching, even for me,”
