'It truly belonged to a nation' - On this day, 17 years ago, Abhinav Bindra won India's first individual gold at Olympics

On this day in 2008, Abhinav Bindra etched his name in history by winning India’s first-ever individual Olympic gold medal at the Beijing Games. Competing in the Men’s 10m Air Rifle event, Bindra faced fierce competition, with the outcome hinging on his final shot. Go Beyond The Boundary with our YouTube channel. SUBSCRIBE NOW!Displaying remarkable calm and precision, he delivered a near-perfect attempt, finishing with a score of 700.5 to claim the top spot and bring immense pride to the nation. "17 years ago, a medal was placed around my neck, but it truly belonged to a nation," Bindra wrote on X. "It was built on the love of my parents, the wisdom of my coaches, and the belief of countless people who stood beside me."My hope has always been that the gold shone far beyond that podium, lighting the way for every Indian athlete who dares to dream." Bindra's illustrious career includes a World Championship gold and multiple medals at the Commonwealth Games and Asian Games. He retired after the 2016 Rio Olympics, where he narrowly missed a podium finish by one-tenth of a point in a shoot-off.The accomplished shooter participated in five Olympics, starting from Sydney 2000 and concluding at Rio 2016, including appearances at Athens 2004, Beijing 2008, and London 2012.In recognition of his achievements, Bindra received the Padma Bhushan, India's third-highest civilian honor, in 2009.He currently serves on the International Olympic Committee's (IOC) Athlete Commissions, where he advocates for participants' issues and supports their development.During the IOC's Paris 2024 session, Bindra became the first Indian to receive the Olympic Order, the IOC's highest award for meritorious services to the Olympic Movement.