Archive · 11 Aug 2026
Abhinav Bindra Reflects on Historic Olympic Gold 18 Years Later
Abhinav Bindra is a famous shooter from India.
Eighteen years ago, he won a gold medal at the Olympic Games in Beijing, China.
He was the first person from India to ever win an individual gold medal at the Olympics.
He won the 10 metre air rifle event, where athletes shoot a small gun at a tiny target from far away.
He scored 700.5 points to win the gold.
Recently, he wrote on social media about that special day.
He said the time between big wins matters just as much as the wins themselves.
After retiring, he started a foundation to help young athletes in India.
His foundation gives them sports science help and training.
Bindra has also won many other medals, including gold at the World Championships and medals at the Commonwealth Games.
Abhinav Bindra marked 18 years since winning India's first individual Olympic gold medal in the 10m air rifle at the Beijing 2008 Olympics.
Bindra secured the historic gold with a score of 700.5 in the 10m air rifle event.
Reflecting on X, Bindra wrote that 'the spaces between the peaks matter just as much' as the achievements themselves.
His career includes a 2006 World Championships gold, seven Commonwealth Games medals, and three Asian Games medals.
Post-retirement, he founded the Abhinav Bindra Foundation Trust (ABFT) to support grassroots athletes in India with sports science technology.
- Who
- Abhinav Bindra, India's first individual Olympic gold medallist
- What
- Reflected on the 18th anniversary of his historic 10m air rifle Olympic gold medal win and his continued contributions to Indian sport
- When
- On the 18th anniversary of his gold medal victory at the 2008 Beijing Olympics
- Where
- Beijing Olympics 2008; his reflections were shared on X
- Why
- To mark the milestone and emphasize that the journey between achievements matters as much as the victories themselves
- Athlete
- Abhinav Bindra
- Event
- 10m air rifle, Beijing Olympics 2008
- Winning score
- 700.5
- Career medals
- Over 150 individual medals over a two-decade career
- Commonwealth Games medals
- 7 medals, including 4 golds
- Foundation
- Abhinav Bindra Foundation Trust (ABFT)
- Honours
- ISSF Blue Cross (2018) and IOC Olympic Order