Blue Cross: Abhinav Bindra becomes first Indian to get highest shooting honour

Ace Indian shooter Abhinav Bindra (36) and still India’s only individual Olympic gold medallist was awarded coveted International Shooting Sport Federation (ISSF) Blue Cross. With this Bindra is the first Indian to be awarded the Blue Cross. The award is conferred for outstanding contribution to sport of shooting and honours distinguished members of the international shooting fraternity. Blue Cross is  highest recognition conferred by parent body of international shooting ISSF.

Abhinav Bindra

He has won Olympic gold medal (2008), World Championship gold (2006), 7 Commonwealth Games medals and 3 Asian Games medals in shooting. He became first Indian to win individual Olympic gold medal by winning the top prize in 10m Air Rifle event at 2008 Games held in Beijing, capital of China. He was given Arjuna award in 2000, Rajiv Gandhi Khel Ratna in 2001 and Padma Bhushan in 2009. He narrowly had missed out on second Olympic medal at 2016 Games in Rio de Janeiro, post which he decided to retire from sport at the age of 33 to make way for next generation of Indian shooters.

Month: Current Affairs - December, 2018