Bindra bags silver

Ace Indian rifle shooter Abhinav Bindra made a brilliant start to the current season's European circuit, winning a silver medal in the opening competition at Luxembourg RIAC 2001.

The 18-year-old Bindra, who became the youngest shooter to participate in the Olympic Games in Sydney last year, tallied 692.4 points, missing the gold by 0.6 points.

Competing against the top riflemen from Europe and Russia, Bindra showed nerves of steel to aggregate 692.4 off a possible 700.

A German won the gold with a score of 693 while a Frenchman settled for bronze medal with 690, according to information received from the National Rifle Association of India in Delhi.

Bindra's feat made a German shooting official comment: "A third world shooter evades Europe with his skill and nerves of steel."

Bindra will be next seen in action when he participates at the Nissan Cup followed by five more events on the circuit.

The youngster, who is preparing for this year's Afro- Asian Games, Pusan Asian Games and the 2004 Athens Olympics, will return home on March 5.