Olympic gold-winning former Indian shooter Abhinav Bindra on Monday criticised the manner in which Argentine football great Lionel Messi’s tour of India has unfolded, saying he feels a “quiet sadness” seeing millions being spent for “moments of proximity photographs and fleeting access” to the legend.
 
“As his recent visit to India unfolded parts of it felt chaotic and left me quietly uneasy. It compelled me to pause and reflect not in judgment but in genuine concern about what we were really trying to achieve,” he wondered aloud in an elaborate post on X.

Lionel Messi is one of those rare athletes whose story transcends sport. His journey from a child fighting physical odds to a footballer who redefined excellence has moved millions across the world. As someone who has lived the life of an athlete, I hold profound respect and…