Shooter Bindra as brand ambassador for Railways, hints Lalu Parasad

Applauding the success of Olympic shooter Abhinav Bindra, Railways Minister Lalu Prasad on Tuesday hinted that railways might rope in the ace shooter to become its brand ambassador. To a question whether railways plan to project Bindra as its brand ambassador, he quipped "Yes, he may be."

On another question why railways have not given any cash award to the shooter, Prasad commented, "Money is not everything. He has done the country proud and he is being honored from all quarters." Railways is considering to offer better job opportunities to sportspersons, he said while talking to reporters in New Delhi. "We are thinking of bringing a proposal to give them job in higher grade services. So far the sportsperson are given jobs in Group C and Group D categories," he added.

Prasad had already announced a free lifetime train travel pass for Bindra which would be valid for first class AC travel by all the trains including Shatabdi and Rajdhani trains. Lauding Bindra's achievement that makes him the first ever individual Olympic gold medalist for India, Prasad said that his remarkable achievement should inspire other Indian athletes to perform well in the remaining part of Beijing Olympics.