A Certified Shooter and an Entrepreneur; Image Source: Getty Images

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It's been more than a decade and it still sounds like a breath of fresh air when India had its very own first individual gold medal at the Olympics. When the world could hear the anthem of the greatest country and see the tricolor rising atop the podium. When just one shot broke the history of 108 years and was written in glorious letters. When every Indian felt pride in their hearts as the young and talented Abhinav Bindra brought home victory. As a matter of fact, it is a name you need no introduction to but, after reading his life story, you will surely conclude that everything that happened was just in destiny.

Born into a wealthy Punjabi family, Bindra attended the all-boys boarding school The Doon School in Dehradun and later the school St. Stephan's when his family moved to Chandigarh. While he grew up in a holistic environment and had all the resources he needed to develop his skills, he never took them for granted. His desire to do something other than the family business was evident and he wasn't keen to try shooting initially, but when it happened, he left it all behind.

> Abhinav's vision was severely affected at the time he started shooting, but he underwent multiple corrective surgeries throughout his career to restore his eyesight.
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Early on, when his father noticed his growing interest in shooting, he did not discourage him but supported him to follow his heart. He arranged everything from special coach training for professional guidance to constructing an indoor shooting range in their backyard for young Abhinav to practice for hours. Nevertheless, Abhinav's dedication and mindfulness in learning the art of shooting allowed him to stay focused right from the start.

In his formative years, assistance from Lt. Col. Dhillon and Amit Bhattacharjee trained him to become a perfectionist at shooting by the age of just 15. It surely was the result of the right guidance and extraordinary support from his elders and trainers who recognized Abhinav's talent and potential at first. In the later years of his career, he was coached by Swiss shooter Gabriele Bühlmann.

> Bindra's first breakthrough came in the 1998 Commonwealth Games and the 2000 Olympics when he was the youngest competitor. Despite not making it to the podium, his experience was invaluable.
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His biggest victory, however, came in the 2001 World Cup in Munich when he won the bronze medal. This period saw him continue to win international competitions and even receive the prestigious Major Dhyan Chand Khel Ratna Award. However, a severe back injury forced him with an inability to lift a rifle for some years.

These were the challenging times for him to stay focused as they interfered with his preparation for the Summer Olympics in 2008. He still went through it all and the gold he brought after this was a glorious win. And as we know, the rest is history. 

> “*Abhinav realizes his weaknesses but believes in himself and is ready to take risks. He is someone who pushes the limits and that is what keeps him motivated*" — Amit Bhattacharjee, in an interview with The Indian Express
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He was, however, one of a kind for it was he, who had everything he ever dreamt of and yet enabled it all to be created by himself. In spite of becoming a certified shooter at such a young age, he never thought of giving up on his studies. Instead, he earned both his BBA and MBA degrees from Colorado University, USA with a great standing.

Awarded a number of national awards and accolades, Abhinav Bindra retired from the sport in 2016 and passed the baton to several young athletes. Since then, he has developed significant policies for athlete development, giving athletes better health and stability, as well as entrepreneurship opportunities. His businesses and non-profit organizations in Chandigarh, are designed to provide access to the latest sports technologies and greatly invest in the development of sports in India. Indeed a life like his is meant to inspire future athletes to keep the sports spirit alive and aim for glory no matter what.

Every aspiring athlete or just those who are sports freak, no one could have resisted without mentioning Abhinav Bindra. A name that belongs to India's top tier list of best sportsmen, so far. It's just incredible how we get to celebrate the ultimate shooting star of India.