Abhinav Bindra Thanks Sushma Swaraj For Her Help After Ace Shooter's Coach Loses Passport

Swift intervention by Ministry of External Affairs ensured shooting ace Abhinav Bindra was accompanied by his coach whose passport got stolen in Germany while the duo were traveling to Rio de Janeiro for the ISSF World Cup, a test event for the upcoming Olympics. (Abhinav Bindra Becomes Fourth Indian To Seal Olympic Spot)

The tournament, starting Friday, assumes significance as the shooters will be competing at the same venue which will host the events during Olympics and will get a feel of it.

Bindra, India's lone Olympic gold medallist, wrote on his Twitter handle

My gratitude to @SushmaSwaraj and @AmbGurjitSingh for intervening and working towards getting things done ????????

- Abhinav Bindra (@Abhinav_Bindra) April 9, 2016

Almost all the shooters (pistol/rifle/shotgun) representing India in 2016 Rio Olympics are taking part in the event in the Brazilian city.

The star names, among others, include Gagan Narang, Jitu Rai, Heena Sidhu and Manavjit Singh Sandhu.

Bindra had earlier tweeted

@SushmaSwaraj would be grateful if some immediate help could be provided. Thank you so much

- Abhinav Bindra (@Abhinav_Bindra) April 9, 2016

Swaraj then asked the Indian Embassy in Germany to look into the matter. And India's Ambassador to Germany Gurjit Singh ensured the matter was resolved swiftly.

The 33-year-old Bindra, who clinched a historic gold in men's 10-m air rifle at Beijing Olympics in 2008, thanked Swaraj for her gesture.

The union minister, on a lighter note, reminded the shooter that "our demand for Olympic Gold Medal stands".

@Abhinav_Bindra So you have found the Passport and u r going to Brazil. Remember - our demand for Olympic Gold Medal stands. @AmbGurjitSingh

- Sushma Swaraj (@SushmaSwaraj) April 10, 2016