Dr Amit Bhattacharjee has been Abhinav Bindra’s mental trainer for nearly two decades. The Chandigarh-based Bhattacharjee first met Bindra in 1994 and their partnership has stood the test of time. Bhattacharjee, a research officer at the Post-Graduate Institute of Medical Sciences, Chandigarh, tells Nitin Sharma what makes his ward special.

Abhinav’s announcement that the Asiad would be his last competition did not come as a surprise to me. He had discussed this with all of us before the games. It takes a lot of courage to announce the decision a day before the event because it would mean more people would be watching him participate one last time, and this adds to the pressure. But that’s what he did at the Glasgow Commonwealth Games. And he won gold.

Yes, Abhinav has said that he may compete in the Rio Olympics but he has taken this decision after much thought. His family wants him to get married and plans are underway. He also wants to help his father in business. Shooting needs complete dedication, and during the past 20-odd years, Abhinav has practiced 13 to 14 hours daily. He will not pursue shooting if he can’t dedicate this much time for practice. But that said, he can still be in good shape ahead of the Olympics.

I first met Abhinav in 1994 when his family was looking for a science teacher for him. Back then American track and field star Carl Lewis was his idol and Abhinav expressed the desire to win an Olympic medal too. When he first came to me for mental training, I still remember what he said to me: ‘Sir, you have to do my homework’.

Abhinav realises his weaknesses but believes in himself and is ready to take risks. He is someone who pushes the limits and that is what keeps him motivated. Before the Beijing Olympics, he underwent commando training. Though he comes from a well-off family, he has toiled hard to make a mark as a sportsman and has not taken his success for granted.