Whatever happened with Anand is disappointing, says Bindra

Published>Tue, Aug 24 10 07:37 PM

New Delhi, Aug 24 (IANS) India's sole individual Olympic gold medallist shooter Abhinav Bindra said Tuesday the way world chess champion and Grandmaster Vishwanathan Anand was treated by the human resource development ministry was unfortunate and shouldn't have happened.

'I don't know the whole thing, but I can say that Anand is a great sportsperson. What has happened is disappointing because he is a big hero and should get his dues. He should be respected,' Bindra told reporters on the sidelines of a programme here to launch the volunteers' uniform for the Delhi Commonwealth Games.

The controversy over Anand, who is based in Spain, began after human resource development ministry officials asked for confirmation of Anand's citizenship before the University of Hyderabad could confer the doctorate on the chess star at the ongoing International Congress of Mathematicians (ICM).

Bindra also reminded the media to concentrate on the athletes for the Oct 3-14 Games as they are the most important stake holders in the Games.

'I started as a 15-year-old in the 1998 Kuala Lumpur Commonwealth Games and now I am proud brand ambassador of the Games. I am here to make one point. Athletes are the most important stakeholders. Everything is happening for the athletes. Not much attention has been paid to the athletes. I ask the media to focus on them,' Bindra said.

'I have seen first class effort made to get the Games to Delhi. Through you all, I urge the people to rally behind the Games. We will rise to the occasion,' he said.

Commonwealth Games Organising Committee (CGOC) chairman Suresh Kalmadi, who was present at the occasion, said the six brand ambassadors chosen for the Commonwealth Games will be promoting the Games not just in Delhi but also across the country.

'Our six brand ambassadors will meet the young people of the city to promote the games. They will also take part in the advertising of the Games whenever they get time off from their training,' said Kalmadi

Apart from Bindra, the other brand ambassadors are Vijender Singh, Saina Nehwal, M.C. Mary Kom, Samresh Jung and Sushil Kumar.

Source: Web Search