Bindra won India's first-ever individual Olympic gold

Abhinav Bindra, the ace shooter won India's first-ever individual Olympic gold medal in the men's 10m Air Rifle shooting in Beijing on Monday.

The silver in the event went to Chinese Zhu Qinan (699.7) while Finland's Henri Hakkinen (699.4) won the bronze at the Beijing Shooting Hall.

The 25-year-old Bindra created history for India in the 108-year Olympics history by earning a total of 700.

•   E-mail Article
•   Printer Friendly
•   Text-Size    

5 points.

He finished the qualifying event joint fourth with Romania's George Alin Moldoveanu after the duo shot a score of 596/600.

"He is the best shooter in the world and I think his is a morale boosting feat for everyone in the contingent," a jubilant Indian Olympic Association President Suresh Kalmadi said after Bindra's win.

Earlier, India's Gagan Narang had failed to make it to the final in the same event finishing ninth with a total of 595/600.

The previous best individual performance was by trap shooter Rajyavardhan Singh Rathore's silver at Athens (2004), while there were bronze medals for woman weightlifter Karnam Malleswari (2000), Leander Paes in tennis (1996) and wrestler Khasaba Jadhav (1952).

Abhinav Bindra had already won gold in 2002 Commonwealth Games in the pairs event and silver in the individual event.