Indian shooting legend Abhinav Bindra was honored with the prestigious Olympic Order on Saturday, acknowledging his “distinguished contribution” to the Olympic movement. Bindra, who became India’s first-ever Olympic individual gold medallist with his victory in the 10m air rifle event at the 2008 Beijing Games, received the accolade during the 142nd session of the International Olympic Committee (IOC).
Reflecting on the honor, Bindra stated, “When I was a young boy, it was these Olympic rings that gave meaning to my life. Pursuing my Olympic dream for over two decades was a privilege, and contributing back to the Olympic Movement post-retirement has been a passion of mine. It has been a privilege and an honor.”
The 41-year-old, who currently serves as vice chair of the IOC Athletes’ Commission, expressed that the award would motivate him to work even harder to support the Olympic Movement. The Olympic Order, established in 1975, is the highest award given by the Olympic Movement, recognizing individuals for their significant contributions.
Bindra, who competed in five consecutive Summer Games starting from Sydney 2000, first made a mark at Athens 2004 by reaching the final of the men’s 10m air rifle event. At Beijing 2008, he secured gold by defeating defending champion Zhu Qinan of China. He also reached the final at Rio 2016, finishing fourth. Bindra has been a member of the IOC Athletes’ Commission since 2018.
