Leela palace hotel

GOAT India Tour: Olympic gold medallist shooter Abhinav Bindra was left "uneasy" at the manner in which Lionel Messi's GOAT India Tour was handled. Messi was scheduled to land in the national capital earlier this morning, but his charter flight was held up due to foggy conditions here. He straightaway proceeded to the Leela Palace Hotel, where he will have a meet-and-greet session for around an hour with a select group of people.

Bindra expressed his "quiet sadness" on social media over the millions of dollars spent for "moments of proximity, photographs and fleeting access," adding that the same funds should have been used to support grassroots initiatives and promote sports in India.

"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 admiration for what he represents: perseverance, humility, and an uncompromising pursuit of greatness. Yet as his recent visit to India unfolded, parts of it felt chaotic and left me quietly uneasy," Bindra posted on X.