Mah CM Deshmukh announces Rs 10 lakh award for Bindra

Mumbai, Aug 11 (UNI) Maharashtra Chief Minister Vilasrao Deshmukh today announced a cash award of Rs 10 lakh for ace shooter Abhinav Bindra for winning India's first individual gold medal in the Olympics.

Bindra today made history by winning the gold medal in the men's 10-meter air rifle event for India in Beijing Olympics.

Deshmukh, who is in Delhi, made the announcement there on behalf of the state, oficial sources told UNI.

Meanwhile, Dilesh Parekh, a Guiness Book of World Record holder for having the maximum number of antique cameras, also extended his congratulations to Bindra for winning the gold medal.

Abhinav, who was the youngest Indian participant at the 2000 Olympic Games, has won six gold medals at various international meets.

In the Air rifle event at the 2002 Commonwealth Games, Manchester, he won gold in the pairs event and silver in the individual event. At the 2004 Olympic Games, he broke the Olympic record but failed to win a medal.

He is a recipient of the Arjuna award in 2001 and the Rajiv Gandhi Khel Ratna award for the year 2001-2002.

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