Star shooter Abhinav Bindra reflected on his historic Beijing 2008 Olympics triumph, when he became the country’s first individual Olympic gold medallist after winning the men’s 10m air rifle event.
In the final, Bindra and Finland’s Henri Hakkinen were tied at the top heading into the last shot. Holding his nerve, Bindra fired a 10.8, his best score of the finals to edge past Hakkinen and secure the gold.
Marking the 17th anniversary of the feat, Bindra shared his emotions on social media. “17 years ago, a medal was placed around my neck, but it truly belonged to a nation. It was built on the love of my parents, the wisdom of my coaches, and the belief of countless people who stood beside me,” he wrote.
“My hope has always been that the gold shone far beyond that podium, lighting the way for every Indian athlete who dares to dream,” he added.
The Beijing gold capped a decorated career that also included a World Championship title and multiple medals at the Commonwealth and Asian Games. Bindra retired after the 2016 Rio Olympics, where he missed out on a medal by a tenth of a point in a shoot-off for third place.
Competing in five consecutive Olympics – Sydney (2000), Athens (2004), Beijing (2008), London (2012) and Rio (2016), Bindra was honoured with the Padma Bhushan in 2009.
As a member of the International Olympic Committee’s (IOC) Athlete Commission, he has championed athlete issues and supported their development. At the IOC’s Paris 2024 session, Bindra became the first Indian to receive the Olympic Order, the IOC’s highest award for meritorious service, recognising his contributions to the Olympic Movement.