Permanent solution needed: Kalmadi

Bindra issue to be looked into

IOA president Suresh Kalmadi, who met Bindra’s father on Wednesday to discuss issues concerning the shooter’s training and participation in tournaments, said care would be taken to ensure that training schedule of elite sportsmen won’t be disturbed.

“Abhinav has our full support. He is our lone Olympic gold medallist, a role model and a symbol of Olympic glory. His father made certain requests which we will consider,” Kalmadi told reporters after the meeting.

“We want more medals from him. He has a heavy training schedule and it should not be disturbed. A permanent solution has to be reached (regarding participation criteria for elite shooters liker Bindra),” the IOA chief said.

“We have to be more professional and treat players with respect. Elite players have certain requirements and we have to respect that,” he added.

Bindra stirred a hornet’s nest following his recent statement that he got so upset with NRAI’s insistence to appear in trials that he felt like quitting the sport. Instead, his argument was that, NRAI should consider his scores in tournaments abroad and spare him from trials.

Kalmadi said he would talk to NRAI before a solution could be reached on Bindra’s selection criteria.

AS Bindra, Abhinav’s father, said his son was disturbed after he was called from his training abroad.