A decade ago, there was a fierce competition in the Olympics among the opponents as to who gets the better of the other tactically and strategically. The ever-so passionate Indian fans have always backed the athletes through thick and thin even in tough times.
If the player bags a medal, it was deemed as the great achievement. Every Indian packed a killer punch and the fans believed that the players would win something for the nation. Abhinav Bindra’s magical work earned him a gold medal for India in the men’s 10m air rifle shooting competition at the 2008 Beijing Olympic games.
Bindra became the first Indian to clinch an individual gold medal. It was the day when Abhinav Bindra’s midas touch stole the spotlight, an unforgettable day that he and his fans shall never forget as the memories are still alive and fresh in our minds.
Quite interestingly, he is the first and only Indian to have held both the World and Olympic titles at the same time, a sensational achievement he accomplished by capturing the Gold Medal at the 2008 Olympic Games in Beijing, after having clinched the gold at the 2006 ISSF World Shooting Championships. Abhinav Bindra continued his excellence in his sport. Much to his zeal, he also won the Gold Medal at the 2014 Commonwealth Games in Glasgow.
Abhinav Bindra joined the GoSports Foundation in 2014, in Bangalore as a member of their board of advisors. In association with the GoSports Foundation, he will extend his contributions to India’s future talented shooters by means of Abhinav Bindra Shooting Development Programme.
Having become a recognisable personality, the Indian Olympics Association (IOA) recruited Abhinav Bindra as the Goodwill Ambassador for the Rio 2016 Olympic Games Indian Contingent in May 2016. Talking about the Rio 2016 Summer Olympics, Bindra finished 4th in the finals of the 10 metre Air Rifle Event. On 5 September 2016, Abhinav Bindra called it quits from the sport he loved the most.
It was Bhattacharjee and Lt. Col. Dhillon’s (who was his first coach) who discovered a great deal of potential in Abhinav Bindra. When Abhinav Bindra entered into the sport, it was an entirely a different experience altogether. He was the youngest Indian participant at the 2000 Olympic Games.
At the 2000 Olympics, the 17-year-old Bindra tried his best and chipped in with a score of 590. However, his best placed him 11th in the qualification round and he did not qualify for the finals as only the top eight competed in the finals.
Abhinav Bindra didn’t delve into disappointment but he learnt slowly day by day by putting hoard of efforts and today, he is an epic source of inspiration to other athletes and the youth. Professional shooters still watch his videos and highlights to gain some confidence in themselves.
