India wins first gold at the Olympics in a discipline other than hockey, in its 80-year association with the Olympic Movement. Chandigarh’s Abhnav Bindra gave the golden moment, clinching gold in the 10 m air rifle. He is the first Indian to win an individual gold at the Olympics in its chequered Olympic history.

India lost won a gold in 1980 through hockey at Moscow. After that gold eluded India in six Olympics before Bindra made Beijing a memorable moment for India.

This is also first time India gets an Olympic gold in any field other than hockey. Ironically, hockey does not qualify to be there.

The Bindra’s gold is a true reflection of changing face of India. Youngsters dreaming big, industrialists went out and buying big busineses, and the IT industry setting benchmark on scientific temperament, and all those vibrancy of the world’s largest functional democracy.

As a hockey, site we take in pride the goldie hails form Chandigarh, long known as Hockey City.

It is genuinely felt that if all other sports start doing well, the burden and expectation on hockey will reduce, and in that relaxed atmosphere hockey can really do well.

The gold medal is a tonic for Indian Olympic Sport. Indian media, who surprisingly have taken the Olympic this time — there about 40 Indian media are there in Beijing — it is all the more good news.