Published By: Rohit Chatterjee

On This Day (Aug 11): 16 Years Ago, Abhinav Bindra Grabbed India’s First Individual Gold at the Games

What makes Bindra India's greatest Olympian isn't just his historic gold medal but his relentless pursuit of perfection.

2008 was a phenomenal year for India in sports, not because of cricket or hockey, the two sports that are mostly followed in the nation. Rather, it was because of one lesser-known man who did the miraculous job of grabbing India’s first gold in an individual Olympic event. The man in question was Abhinav Bindra who gave India its first individual gold in 61 years (2008) of independence since 1947.

700.5 points of near-perfect score

Sixteen years ago, Bindra made history by winning India's first individual Olympic gold medal. Competing in the men's 10m Air Rifle event at the 2008 Beijing Olympics, Bindra delivered a masterclass in composure and precision. His near-perfect score of 700.5 points in a nail-biting final clinched the gold.

India's Olympic gold legacy

Before Bindra's historic gold, India had secured eight Olympic gold medals in men's field hockey in 1928, 1932, 1936, 1948, 1952, 1956, 1964, and 1980 but not a single came in individual event. After Bindra’s achievement, the next Olympic gold for India came in the 2020 Tokyo Olympics, when Neeraj Chopra won the top medal in the Javelin Throw, marking a new era of individual success for the country. Unfortunately, despite one of the populous countries on earth, India still struggles to grab multiple gold medals in the Games.

The making of Bindra

Bindra, born in Dehradun on September 28, 1982, grew up watching competitions on television and a series of tournaments ignited his love for shooting. This early experience sparked his enthusiasm, which led him along the path to becoming a shooting legend. He methodically refined his talents with constant support from his family and his initial coach, Lt. Col. J.S. Dhillon.

At 15, Bindra was the youngest competitor at the 1998 Commonwealth Games. His breakthrough came in 2001 at the World Championships in Munich, when he won the gold medal in a senior World Championship at just 18, becoming the youngest Indian shooter to do so. This achievement laid the groundwork for his Olympic success.

Blending precision with mental strength

What makes Bindra India's greatest Olympian isn't just his historic gold medal but his relentless pursuit of perfection. At just 17, he made his Olympic debut at the Sydney Games. While he didn't secure a medal, the experience ignited his drive to excel globally. He adopted an intensive approach, blending technical precision with mental fortitude. Recognising India's lack of training facilities, he dedicated much of his time to training in Germany under coach Gaby Buhlmann.

A support system for the next stars

Bindra is also the founder of the Abhinav Bindra Foundation, which is dedicated to enhancing athletes' performance through sports science and technology. His commitment extends to his physiotherapy and rehabilitation centre, which focuses on supporting athletes' recovery and overall well-being. Through these initiatives, Bindra continues contributing to the sports community, applying his expertise and passion to help others achieve their best.

His medal tally

Apart from the Olympics medal, he secured gold medals in the Pairs event of the 2002 Manchester, 2006 Melbourne and 2010 Delhi Commonwealth Games. In 2014 Glasgow, he won a gold in singles whereas grabbed silver medals in 2002 and 2010. The 2006 Melbourne edition also saw him winning a bronze. Even in the Asian Games, he won a Team’s silver in the 2010 edition whereas two bronze (one team, one single) in the Incheon edition.

Last but not least, Bindra has been honoured with awards such as Arjuna award, Major Dhyan Chand Khel Ratna and the Padma Bhushan award.