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Who is Abhinav Bindra? I Blog By Team Bookosmia

Who is Abhinav Bindra? Here is a must-read blog on India’s first individual gold medalist.

August 16, 2024

Who is Abhinav Bindra?

Born in Uttarakhand, Abhinav was a determined youngster who had found his calling very early in the field of shooting. At 15, He was the youngest participant at the 1998 Commonwealth Games. After winning medals in top shooting events across the world, he was conferred with prestigious honours such as the Major Dhyan Chand Khel Ratna Award, India’s highest sports award. In the 2004 Olympics, he set a new record but did not win a medal. Meanwhile, continuous participation had taken a toll on his health and he suffered a severe back injury. However, he did not let this distract him from his goal: a medal at the 2008 Beijing Olympics.

The moment he was waiting for arrived—the final of the 10 m air rifle event. In the finals, he was tied with Henri Hakkinen heading into his final shot but that’s when Abhinav scored 10.8 and won the coveted individual gold for India. It is a moment India will never forget because it reminds us that, with determination and the right support, Indian athletes are second to none.

After his retirement from the sport, Abhinav started the ‘Abhinav Bindra Foundation’, which strives to help Indian athletes with global best practices in sport science, education and social upliftment through sport.

For his achievements and his numerous initiatives even after retirement, Abhinav has been selected as a Torch Bearer, a prestigious honour, at the 2024 Paris Olympics.

In August 2024, Abhinav Bindra was awarded the prestigious Olympic Order in recognition of his distinguished contribution to the Olympic movement.