Abhinav Bindra, India’s sole individual Olympic gold medallist, said on Friday he will bring the curtains down on his illustrious career at the upcoming Rio Games where he will be the country’s flagbearer in the opening ceremony.
The 33-year-old Bindra said his 20-year-long sporting career has been a special one.
Bindra will be making his fifth Olympic appearance this year. He will be competing in the men’s 10-metre air rifle event on 8 August.
The 33-year-old is till date India’s only individual gold medallist at the Olympics. The usually reserved shooter achieved the feat when he clinched a historic gold in 10-metre air rifle event at the Beijing Games in 2008.
Winner of numerous medals at top international competitions including World Championships, World Cups, Asian Games and Commonwealth Games, Bindra is also one of the goodwill ambassadors of the Indian contingent for the Rio Games and is working towards inspiring the athletes to give their best in the Brazilian city this summer.
Alongside star boxer Vijender Singh, tennis legend Leander Paes and decorated grappler Sushil Kumar, Bindra’s name was under consideration prior to the 2012 London Games too, before the IOA gave the honour of being the flagbearer to the double Olympic medallist wrestler.
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