Internet Desk: Olympic champion shooter Abhinav Bindra was on Friday chosen as the flagbearer of the Indian contingent at the Rio Games’ opening ceremony on August 5.
The Indian Olympic Association (IOA) confirmed that they have chosen the 2008 Beijing Olympic gold medallist as the country’s flagbearer for the quadrennial extravaganza.
Bindra will be making his fifth Olympic appearance this year.
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.
The National Rifle Association of India (NRAI) expressed its delight at the development.
“He is India’s only singular gold medallist, he is also in the executive board of the International Shooting Sport Federation (ISSF). We feel it’s a just decision, a wise decision and we whole-heartedly support it,” NRAI President Raninder Singh told PTI.
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.
To be the flag bearer at the Olympic Games is an athletes ultimate honor.I am humbled & grateful to be considered worthy of this great honor
— Abhinav Bindra (@Abhinav_Bindra) June 10, 2016
Meanwhile, Abhinav Bindra also asaid that he will bring the curtains down on his illustrious career after the 2016 Rio Olympics.
33-year-old Bindra, the 2008 Beijing Olympic gold medallist, said his 20-year-long sporting career has been a special one.”As my sporting career which lasted 20 years draws to a close on the 8th of August, this is indeed special,” Bindra wrote on his twitter handle.
Bindra will be making his fifth Olympic appearance this year. He will be competing in the men’s 10-metre air rifle event on August 8. 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.