Abhinav Bindra, India’s first individual Olympic Gold medalist, has been bestowed with the highest honor by the International Olympic Committee (IOC), the Olympic Order. The award was presented at the 142nd IOC Session in Paris, recognizing Bindra’s exceptional contributions to the Olympic Movement.
Reflecting on this prestigious recognition, Bindra expressed, “This recognition is not just a personal milestone but a testament to the spirit of perseverance and dedication that sports instill in us all. I am deeply honored to be recognized by the IOC, and I dedicate this to all the athletes and sports enthusiasts who strive to uphold the Olympic ideals.”
Bindra’s journey to this remarkable achievement is a testament to his dedication and excellence. He made history by becoming the first Indian to win an individual Olympic Gold medal at the 2008 Beijing Games in the Men’s 10m Air rifle event. He also holds the distinction of being the first Indian to win a World Championship Gold in Air Rifle Shooting. Over his two-decade-long career, Bindra has amassed over 150 individual medals, establishing himself as one of India’s greatest sports icons.
His commitment to the world of sports extends beyond his own athletic achievements. In 2018, Bindra was awarded the Blue Cross, the highest honor bestowed by the International Shooting Sport Federation (ISSF), further acknowledging his exceptional service to the sport.
Bindra’s contributions have also been instrumental in shaping sports governance. He served as the Chair of the ISSF Athletes Committee for eight years and currently holds the positions of a member of the IOC Athlete Commission and Education Commission.
Following his retirement from competitive sports, Bindra founded the Abhinav Bindra Foundation Trust (ABFT), a non-profit organization committed to supporting grassroots athletes in India. ABFT’s focus on high-performance training, education, and social upliftment aims to bring global best practices to Indian sports, ensuring a lasting impact on the country’s future athletes.
One of ABFT’s key initiatives is the Olympic Values Education Programme (OVEP), implemented in partnership with the International Olympic Committee’s Olympic Foundation for Culture and Heritage (OFCH) and state governments in Odisha and Assam. Launched in Odisha in 2022 and Assam in 2023, OVEP aims to instill the core Olympic values of excellence, friendship, and respect in over 11,000 schools, impacting more than 1 million school children. By fostering a culture of sports and holistic development, OVEP is positioning India as a leader in values-based education, with a goal of reaching 13 million schoolchildren by 2025.
Bindra’s dedication to sustainability and environmental stewardship is evident in the Odisha Ridley Forest Project, an initiative aimed at preserving the natural habitat of the endangered Olive Ridley turtles along the Odisha coastline.
This recognition from the IOC reaffirms Bindra’s enduring legacy in the world of sports and highlights his ongoing efforts to promote the values of Olympism globally.
