Bindra hopes for a shot at Asian Games despite back injury

New Delhi, Sep 22 (UNI) He has not touched the gun since killing two birds -- World Championship Gold and Beijing Olympics berth -- with one shot in July but Abhinav Bindra still harbours the hope of overcoming the back pain and bolster India's Asian Games prospects later this year in Doha.

The suave, reticent sharpshooter would be leaving for Germany on October 4 and says it's not all over yet and he might just recover before the Asian Games.

''I'm going to Germany early next month and it's not possible for me to predict anything right now. Everything will depend on the doctor's finding there. It's a career-threatening injury after all.

''But still if I manage to regain my full fitness and have a month to prepare,I would like to give it a go,'' he told UNI here last night.

Bindra revealed he feels the pain even when lying down and didn't have proper sleep since then.

''I guess, it shows in my eyes,'' he said.

''This has become quite difficult for me. I have not shot since the World Championship because that makes sense,'' he explained.

Whether he travels with the contingent or not, Bindra said the Indian shooters have it in them to reap a rich harvest in Doha.

''Shooting is the numero uno sport in India which is bringing in more laurels than any other sports. All of the shooters are very talented and they have the potentials to do well in international arena. But they would have to peak on that particular day to win medals,'' he explained.

The bespectacled marksman with a scholar's look also revealed that he was not overtly worried with Beijing Olympics and also shot down the notion that the Indian shooters were peaking a bit early.

''Olympic is another two years down the line and I'm not losing my sleep over that. I also don't subscribe to the view that we are peaking early. If you don't peak well in time, you can't win the quota places. First you have to book your berth and only then you can think about winning medals,'' he elaborated.

''The idea is to build confidence. Confidence in your ability and in your training. That's the key for all shooters,'' the Rajiv Gandhi Khel Ratna awardee marksman said.

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