Abhinav Bindra, the trailblazer who captured India's first individual Olympic medal, has been conferred with the coveted Olympic Order for outstanding contribution toward the Olympic movement. Given by the International Olympic Committee in appreciation for distinguished services, the Olympic Order represents the highest award conferred by the committee.
Bindra, a member of the IOC Athletes Commission, is the first Indian to get this premier award with the decision being ratified at the IOC Executive Board meeting in Paris last Saturday. One and all hailed the news with several government-related social media handles sharing the news.
In a letter dated Monday, IOC President Thomas Bach wrote to Bindra, “It is with great pleasure that I inform you that the IOC Executive Board has today decided to award you with the Olympic Order for your outstanding services to the Olympic November."
Bach addresses warm congratulations to Bindra: “May I take this opportunity to address you my most sincere congratulations on this award. Looking forward to seeing you in Paris."
Among those who congratulated him for the feat was Minister for Youth Affairs and Sports, Mansukh Mandaviya.“Congratulations to @Abhinav_Bindra on being awarded the Olympic Order for outstanding contributions to the Olympic Movement! His achievement fills us with pride and is truly well-deserved. His name alone has inspired generations of shooters and Olympians."
“History-maker, once again, Congratulations Abhinav Bindra,” said the post on X, which was accompanied by a photo of Bindra when he won India’s maiden individual gold medal in men’s 10m air rifle in Beijing 2008.
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