Abhinav Bindra lost a heart-stopping shoot-off and a great chance to provide India with their first medal of the Olympic Games on a day of missed opportunities for the country's contingent in Rio.
Abhinav Bindra lost a heart-stopping shoot-off and a great chance to provide India with their first medal at 2016 Olympic Games at Rio De Janeiro on a day of missed opportunities for India's contingent.
In his fifth successive and final Olympic appearance, Bindra had to settle for a fourth place finish after eventual silver medallist Serhiy Kulish of Ukraine edged the Indian out 10.5-10 in the men's 10m air rifle shoot-off in the race to reach the medal round. The two has been tied with the same score at the packed Olympic Shooting Centre in Deodoro.
India's only individual Olympic champion did not trot out any excuses, but only announced his retirement from the sport that had brought him worldwide attention and fame after he won gold for the same event at Beijing in 2008.
Saying he's 'done', Bindra revealed that he will now convert his shooting range into a garden. "I'm converting that into a vegetable garden. Don't you think I'm a serious person? Maybe the next time (Tokyo 2020), I will come as a journalist if anybody gives me a job," said Bindra.
Here is a look at some of his moments at Rio 2016 and highlights from his career.
1. Qualifier at Rio 2016
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Abhinav Bindra competes in the Men's 10m Air Rifle qualifying round at Rio Olympics 2016 at Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. (Photo courtesy - PTI)
2. Shooting in progress at Rio 2016
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Abhinav Bindra finished seventh in the qualifying round to make the cut for the finals, which his compatriot and London Olympics bronze medallist Gagan Narang failed to do. Bindra had shot with a malfunctioning gun. Before the start of the 10m air rifle qualification, Bindra fell down from the chair along with his gun and, as a result, the 'sight' of his rifle broke. (Photo courtesy - Twitter)
3. Bindra in action
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In photo: Abhinav Bindra competes in the Mens 10m Air Rifle qualifying round at Rio Olympics 2016. (Photo courtesy - PTI)
At 15, Bindra was the youngest participant at the 1998 Commonwealth Games. He was also the youngest Indian to take part at the 2000 Olympic Games. He shot to fame after his win at the 2008 Beijing Olympics, the first Indian to win an individual gold medal.
4. After shoot-off
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Abhinav Bindra after his loss in the Men's 10m Air Rifle final at 2016 Rio Olympics. (Photo courtesy - PTI)
After his loss at Rio 2016, Bindra announced his retirement from professional shooting, ending an 18-year-long international career.
5. Bindra at the 2006 Commonwealth Games
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Gagan Narang and Abhinav Bindra celebrate winning the Men's 10m Air Rifle Pair's Final at the Melbourne International Shooting Club on Day 2 of the 2006 Commonwealth Games in Australia. (Photo courtesy - Getty Images)
6. Victors of the 2008 Beijing Olympics
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(L-R) Silver medalist Zhu Qinan of China, Gold medalist Abhinav Bindra and Bronze medalist Henri Hakkinen of Finland pose after the Men's 10m Air Rifle Final at the Shooting Range Hall on Day 3 of the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games, China. (Photo courtesy - Getty Images)
7. India's indomitable shooting duo
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Gold medal winners in the Men's 10m Air Rifle Pairs, Abhinav Bindra and Gagan Narang pose with their medals at Dr. Karni Singh Shooting Range on Day 2 of the 2010 Commonwealth Games in Delhi, India. (Photo courtesy - Getty Images)
8. Bindra's medal from the 2014 Commonwealth Games
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Other Awards:
In 2006, at the World Championship in Zagreb, Bindra became the first Indian shooter to win a gold medal. He also won gold at the 2014 Commonwealth Games in Glasgow. (Medal pictured above.)
Bindra was awarded the Arjuna Award in 2000 and the Rajiv Gandhi Khel Ratna Award, in 2001, the latter being the highest sporting honour in India.
In 2009, Bindra was awarded India's third highest civilian award, the Padma Bhushan.
(Photo courtesy - Abhinav Bindra's Twitter account)
