Last week’s Singapore Open triumph once again revealed Jeev Milkha Singh’s talent, temperament and burning desire to excel.

Singh kept his cool in the final few holes despite major winners Padraig Harrington of Ireland and South African Ernie Els breathing down his neck, both one good putt away from forcing
a playoff.

Title number three for the year came despite requiring the physio’s attention for a stiff neck and back. The pain did not stop him from becoming the first million-dollar man in a single season in the fast-growing Asian Tour. This has virtually made sure he will top the money list for a second time, after claiming the 2006 Order of Merit.

Singh, regarded as the pioneer among India’s professional golfers, finished tied ninth in this year’s U.S. PGA Championship on an Oakland Hills Country Club, Michigan course dubbed  “The Monster” by Ben Hogan.

A huge achievement for Indian golf, it was drowned in the celebrations that followed the success of another Chandigarh sportsman. Shooter Abhinav Bindra it was, who won India’s
first individual Olympic gold medal within hours of Singh’s excellent finish.

Into the top 50 in the world ranking, Singh is expected to figure in all four majors next year.

Will 2009 be the year when India’s own Singh emulates his Fijian namesake Vijay Singh by bagging a Major?

India is no longer the “one-medal nation”. Sushil Kumar ensured that by winning a bronze medal on Wednesday, just a week after shooter Abhinav Bindra struck gold in Beijing.

Kumar beat Leonid Spiridonov of Kazakhstan in a bronze medal bout of the men’s 66kg freestyle wrestling event.

Bindra had won India’s first ever individual Olympic gold medal in the men’s 10m air rifle event on August 11.

And another medal is assured with Indian pugilist Vijender Kumar surviving in the boxing event.

On Wednesday, Sushil Kumar became the first Indian to win a wrestling medal at the Olympics since 1952.

Join us in congratulating him.

By Erik Kirschbaum:
Abhinav Bindra won India’s first ever individual Olympic gold medal on Monday with a thrilling come-from-behind victory in the men’s 10m air rifle.

Bindra had been fourth after qualifying but had a brilliant final round and even hit a near perfect 10.8 on his last shot to pull in front of Henri Hakkinen of Finland, who dropped to bronze with a poor final shot of 9.7.

That allowed China’s Zhu Qinan, the defending Olympic champion and heavy favourite, to pass him on his final shot and win the silver medal.

“It’s just great,” Bindra told Reuters just before climbing on to the podium.

And — the celebrations have begun .

Babli Bindra, Abhinav’s mother, quipped: “Now I have lots of work ahead as he is the country’s most eligible bachelor.”

Already, the 25-year-old shooter’s female fan base is growing.

“Abhinav, will you marry me? My parents will have to buy that much less GOLD now,” read one congratulatory message posted by ‘Kaveri’ on the Reuters website.

Join us in congratulating Bindra.