Abhinav Bindra Career Journey
In Beijing on 11 August 2008 he finished with a total of 700.5, edging China’s Zhu Qinan and Finland’s Henri Hakkinen to become the first Indian to win an individual Olympic gold. As the reigning world champion at the time, he held both major titles at once. London 2012 was a disappointment, as he failed to reach the final, but he regrouped to win Commonwealth gold and Asian Games bronze in 2014. At Rio 2016, his fifth Olympics, he finished fourth after a shoot-off for bronze and retired from competition soon after. His autobiography, A Shot at History, was published in 2011.
Abhinav Bindra Records and Milestones
- First Indian to win an individual Olympic gold medal (Beijing 2008)
- First Indian to win the world title in 10m air rifle (2006)
- Held the world and Olympic titles at the same time in 2008
- Five consecutive Olympic Games appearances (2000 to 2016)
- First Indian to receive the IOC’s Olympic Order (2024)
Abhinav Bindra Awards and Honours
| Year | Award |
|---|---|
| 2000 | Arjuna Award |
| 2001 | Rajiv Gandhi Khel Ratna (now Major Dhyan Chand Khel Ratna) |
| 2009 | Padma Bhushan |
| 2011 | Honorary Lieutenant Colonel, Territorial Army |
| 2018 | ISSF Blue Cross |
| 2024 | Olympic Order (IOC) |
