Abhinav Bindra On How India Have Failed Its Sportspersons

As India struggle to win even a single medal at the Rio Olympics 2016, ace shooter Abhinav Bindra has told NDTV that he doesn't even get angry anymore with the apathy of sports administrators and politicians.

"I wont get angry and spoil my own health. It happens every time and that is the way it is," Bindra said.

From doping controversies to minister's aides breaking protocols in Rio, India have earned little glory in the Summer Games. The poor performance of the athletes - India sent 118 members, the largest ever - has only made matters worse. With four days to go, India are struggling for medals. They won six in London 2012.

"We need a complete overhaul of sports administration, need more professionals and experts to head these federations", Bindra said. He is the only Indian to have won an individual gold medal at the Olympics (in Beijing in 2008)

Rio 2016 was Bindra's fifth and last Olympics. He was the brand ambassador of the Indian contingent and was given the honour of being the flag-bearer at the opening ceremony on August 5.

Thirty-three-year-old Bindra believes India lost their mojo after the London Games.

"We lost momentum post London Games, there was a period of silence after London Olympics, we lost a year there. Money can't buy you medals", Bindra said.

"There has to be a long-term, sustained preparation, can't pump in resources in the last five-six months and expect some magic," he added.

It wasn't a happy swansong for Bindra at Rio. His quest for a second Olympics medal ended in heartbreak as he missed a medal by a whisker in a tense shoot-off in the men's 10m air rifle event.

Bindra has made an appeal to the private sector, saying "corporates need to get involved, need investment at grassroots".

Bindra says he doesn't have the finances to contribute himself but would be happy to share his knowledge and expertise in training.