Allow me to practice on my own, urges Bindra

Ace shooter Abhinav Bindra, who has created a flutter by threatining to quit the sport, on Saturday, urged the administrators to let him follow his own training module which has helped him become an Olympic champion.

Bindra said he was frustrated with the National Rifles Association of India's (NRAI) attitude towards him.

The NRAI and the sports ministry though are blaming each other for creating the confusion about Bindra's participation in the selection trials.

"I want to concentrate on my sport and to keep myself out of these non productive issues, which only has an adverse effect on my future performance," Bindra said in a statement.

The Chandigarh marksman said he was frustrated with the turn of events which led to his exlusion from the Commonwealth shooting championship squad.

"I was communicated through a letter by the Ministry of Sports (MOS) in July, 2009 and September 2009 that the NRAI had intimated that I must participate in the selection trial in December 2009, Commonwealth shooting championship in February 2010 and in ISSF World Cup in March 2010.

"I gave my confirmation in September 2009 about my participation in these events. I planned my training in Europe accordingly and came back especially in December 2009 only to learn that there were no trials taking place.

"Subsequently the team for the Commonwealth shooting championships February 2010 has been announced without my name featuring in it," he said. Bindra said he has requested both NRAI and Sports Ministry to consider his scores in the international events for selection.

"These events have left me very disturbed and frustrated at the way my professional training has been discounted. In light of these events, I have requested MOS and NRAI that my future international results be regarded as a benchmark for my selection, so that I can focus on my training programme and method, which has shown great results in the past," he said.

Bindra said unless he trains his own way he can't produce good results.

"I don't see the chance of future success if I am not going to be allowed to prepare in a certain way of training and competing that my professional team has planned. These modules have worked very well for me in the past and have helped me be the current world championship and Olympic champion," he said.

Bindra added that bringing laurels for the country was always his priority and was pained to see that his viewpoint was not understood in its true sense.

"Ever since I took up the sport 15 years ago, I dreamt of winning a gold medal in the air rifle shooting for the country. It was unfortunate, that as a nation we had to wait till 2008 to get our first individual gold medal when I took the top step of the podium at Beijing", he said.

"My main endeavour has always been to bring glory for the nation, which had been starved for success in Olympic sports. In my mind and heart, nothing is more important than the glory and pride, all Indians felt as a nation when I achieved my ultimate dream and nothing was more satisfying than seeing the tricolour go up with the national anthem being played on 11th August 2008, when history was created.

"It is quite unfortunate and extremely distressing to me that my point of view is not being appreciated and respected. The present situation leaves me very frustrated and upset and it does not really leave me with much motivation.

It disturbs me and makes it difficult for me to focus on the sport. Shooting is a very mental sport. I have to be in the right frame of mind to concentrate and focus on shooting well.

I am traveling to Europe in the coming week to consult my team of professionals to chart out my future course of action," he said.