Abhinav Bindra Had a Rifle Malfunction Before The Qualifying Round

Part of his equipment had to be replaced at the last moment.

Abhinav Bindra with India’s Chef de Mission in Rio, Rajeev Gupta. (Photo: IANS)

Abhinav Bindra had to deal with equipment malfunction before the champion rifle shooter stepped on the arena for the 10 meter air rifle event, in which he ultimately finished fourth.

Just before the start of the qualification round at 9am local time, Bindra fell down along with his gun from a chair and as a result the ‘sight’ of his rifle broke.

This is something a shooter would not want before a game. He had specially made it for the Olympics to suit the lighting. Even after such meticulous detailing he fell short. But a shooter is conditioned to shoot even if the roof is falling. We got over it and started with our game

Heinz Reinkemeier, Abhinav Bindra’s coach

At the Beijing Games, there was another incident where Bindra’s gun was tampered with, just before the final, but it did not matter to him as he clinched India’s first individual gold.

In his fifth successive and final Olympic appearance, Bindra had to settle for a fourth place after eventual silver medalist Serhiy Kulish of Ukraine edged the Indian out 10.5-10 in the shootoff at a packed Olympic Shooting Centre in Deodoro.

Also read: Abhinav Bindra’s Olympic Farewell Ends In a Fourth Place Finish
Sachin, Harsha, Sehwag Join India in Bidding Farewell to Bindra