Sport and politics should not be mixed in an ideal world but in reality it can't happen in certain cases, feels champion shooter Abhinav Bindra amid heightened tensions between India and Pakistan in the wake of Uri terror attack.
"At the end of the day, it is the decision of the government. It takes the final call on whether a team can play (against Pakistan) and that call has to be respected," Bindra said.
So does he feel that politics and sport should be kept separateIJ "It is a very difficult question. One would hope for that to happen (that sport and politics is not mixed). It is a nice thought it should be separated because that is the Olympic values as well that sport should be free from politics. But today, in reality, it doesn't happen sometimes. One has to take a call from situation to situation and the government's decision has to be respected," he added.
The Indian government has stepped up its efforts to isolate Pakistan globally on all fronts post the Uri attack and it has also impacted the sporting ties between the two neighbours with the BCCI outrightly ruling out resumption of cricketing ties and Pakistan's Kabaddi team not taking part in the ongoing World Cup in Ahmedabad.
Is he liking his post retirement life and does he intend to 'hobby shoot' once in a whileIJ
"I was already a hobby shooter the last five years so no more of that. I am quite busy actually, trying to earn a living. I go to work every day, it is a different life but it is fine. I like it," said Bindra.