Colonel Dhillon trained him and took him to one competition after another. Abhinav won competitions in Ropar and Chandigarh. After he started shooting many youngsters have joined the sport, but in 1995 few young players were around. Our major victory was in Asansol. It was a big thing for us.
Shooting requires concentration and focus. I tell parents if your child is interested in sport, encourage him. Those days have gone when parents put emphasis on studies. When a child becomes a sportsman his or her character development is easier. A child's personality development is better when they pursue a goal.
'Everything has been wrongly done in this country'
It is a totally different world now. Whatever you do, you have to excel in it. Abhinav used to be focussed in school too. He has always been a responsible kid. I have never told Abhinav to do this or that. He knew what he is supposed to do. Once he started liking shooting and once he started doing well in competitions his interest developed in the sport. Then it was our responsibility to encourage him. We took over from that point. He developed a vision for himself. To pursue and to achieve that as a family we had a major role but, of course, up to a point.
We gave him a happy home. Once he reached the international level, one of his coaches told his father and me that the first thing you should do is that you should be a proper couple. He meant that Abhinav should have peace of mind.
Abhinav is a private person, not totally a introvert. He enjoys life, but he doesn't speak much. The nature of his sport is such that you are fighting with yourself all time. Your competition is yourself. You are not competing with anybody else. You have to constantly improve your score. As a result, shooters become very private people.
It was not difficult to handle Abhinav. When I look back I find our story is like a fairytale. We have got so much publicity -- I like it -- but it has been a struggle.
Fighting the system all these years has been a pretty hard struggle, but all is well that ends well.
Image: Babli Bindra at her home in Defence Colony in New Delhi. Photograph: Sheela Bhatt
Also read: Meet India's Great Olympian, the incomparable Leslie Claudius
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