India welcomes golden boy Bindra

India's first-ever individual Olympic gold medalist Abhinav Bindra arrived at the Indira Gandhi International airport on Wednesday night to a hero's welcome.

Bindra's father AS Bindra, mother Babli Bindra and his sister and brother-in-law were present at the airport to receive the 25-year-old shooter.

"I am very happy. I feel honoured that I have won the first gold medal in the olympics," Bindra said extending Independence Day greetings to all.

A huge crowd gathered to have a glimpse of the Chandigarh marksman. Drummers, a contingent of mediapersons and security personnel in large numbers were present.

Bindra has won the the gold medal in the 10 metre air rifle men's event in Beijing Olympics.

Anjali, Avneet fail to qualify for 50 metre 3 Position finals
India's Anjali Bhagwat and Avneet Kaur Sidhu crashed out without being able to make the grade for the finals of the women's 50m air rifle three position shooting competition at the Beijing Olympics on Thursday.

Anjali finsihed at 32nd while Avneet at 42nd position after putting up a dismal show.

Anjali Bhagwat got the Olympic quota place in women's 50 m rifle three position event at the ISSF World Cup at Resende in Brazil. Despite finishing fourth in the event, Anjali was awarded the berth since the top three podium finishers had already made it to the Olympics.

Earlier in the 10 m air rifle event Anjali, who is competing in her third Olympics, finished 29th with a score of 393 while Avneet Kaur Sidhu was down 10 more places, shooting a poor 389 in the same event.

Anjali fired rounds of 99, 99, 97 and 98 for a total of 393, way off the last shooter's qualifying mark of 397 in the 10 m air rifle event.

On the other hand Avneet did have a perfect 100 in the second set after firing 98 in the first set, but her last two sets of 96 and 95 were just not in the same class as the top shooters in the field.