Abhinav Bindra

Abhinav Bindra holds to his credit the unique acclaim of being the first Indian shooter to earn a gold medal at World Championship in Zagreb, Croatia on July 24, 2006. One of India’s ace and excellent shooters, he took up the sport in his pre-teens and excelled in his first competition – Ropar District Shooting Championship. Since his childhood, he had the fascination for the guns his father and grandfather owned and as he grew up his fascination took him to podium heights.

A multitude of a dozen gold medals in state championships were the mark of the emerging shooter in 1996. The following year he broke the national record. Also, he was the youngest Indian participant at 1998 Kuala Lumpur Commonwealth Games and 2000 Sydney Olympics.

Air Rifle has been his pet event. In 2001, he bagged six gold medals at various international meets. As well as made a new junior world record. Certainly, these victories in the European circuit were just the beginning for Bindra’s exploits. In 2002, at the Manchester Commonwealth Games he won gold in the pair event and silver in the individual event. He was awarded the highest sporting honours in the country- Arjuna Award and Rajiv Gandhi Khel Ratna award for his performances. At the 2004 Olympic Games, he broke the Olympic record but failed to win a medal.

Back injury is the most predictable injury when it comes to the sport of shooting and considering that Abhinav took up the sports in pre-teens it was not a surprise that he was struck with the issue in his early twenties. It was after his achievement in Zagreb that he directly went to Munich to consult specialists and has made a brilliant comeback paving his way successfully to Beijing Olympics.

Abhinav also has a sound education in business management as well as holds a diploma in Sports Mental Management. At all times, he has had astounding support from his family; he even has an indoor shooting range at his home in Punjab.
Major Achievements :

  • World Champion Air Rifle – 2006
  • Commonwealth Games, Melbourne–Gold, Silver, Bronze medalist – 2006
  • Broke the Olympic Record of 96 at Athens Olympics – 2004
    • - Commonwealth Games Record Holder – 2004
    • - World Record Holder 2000- 2004
  • Athens Olympics (Finalist) – 2004
  • ISSF World Cup Medalist (2001, 2003)
  • Common Wealth Games, Manchester -Gold, Silver, Medalist – 2002
  • European Circuit Champion – 7 Gold Medals, 4 Silver, 1 Bronze – 2002
  • Arjuna Award – 2000
  • Rajiv Gandhi Khel Ratna Award – 2001
  • Limca Book of Records
  • World Records Holder Book