India’s lone individual Olympic gold medallist, Abhinav Bindra, resigned on Friday from the posts of national observer for shooting as well as chairman of the Target Olympic Podium (TOP) scheme’s Identification committee to avoid any potential ‘conflict of interest’ charge arising out of his association with private sports projects.
New years come with exciting new prospects. Will be looking to expand and run @abhinavbindratp centres across the country and make them accessible to our athletes. Will be resigning public posts of Govt Observer shooting and
— Abhinav Bindra (@Abhinav_Bindra) December 22, 2017
Chairman TOP Scheme Athlete Identification Committee with immediate effect. I thank the @IndiaSports for the opportunity provided to serve. I will always remain accessible to any fellow athlete and look forward to what 2018 holds.
— Abhinav Bindra (@Abhinav_Bindra) December 22, 2017
Bindra, in a letter addressed to sports minister Rajyavardhan Rathore, informed that since he would be “deeply” associating himself with private projects while expanding his own ‘Abhinav Bindra Targeting Performance’ (ABTP) centres across India, it would be prudent on his part to disassociate himself from the two government positions.
“As I will now be involving myself more deeply in private projects, including the establishment and operation of the Abhinav Bindra Targeting Performance Centres across the country, I believe there could be a potential conflict of interest between these positions as more athletes start training at these centres,” Bindra wrote, while thanking the ministry for the trust and faith shown in him in bestowing the responsibility of observer and TOP committee.
“I, therefore, sincerely request you to relieve me of these two posts so that any potential conflict of interest can be avoided before it arises and the sanctity of these posts is fully retained. I remain at the ministry’s disposal for any and all future assistance,” the 35-year-old further added.
Bindra’s surprise resignation has brought down the number of national observers to nine from the originally appointed 12 Olympians. Earlier, in 2015, Bindra had quit as a member of the TOP committee citing lack of available time to spare for the scheme in view of his Rio Olympic preparations.
