Greatest Olympic Gold Medalist In India: Abhinav Bindra vs Neeraj Chopra

Indian shooter Abhinav Bindra and Indian athletics star Neeraj Chopra are some of the most incredible role models in a cricket-crazy country. Abhinav Bindra and Neeraj Chopra are the only Individual Olympics heroes to have won individual gold medals at the Summer Olympics in India's 75 years of independence and over 100 years of Olympic Games history. As many as 51 days are left for the start of the much-awaited 2024 Paris Olympics. The 33rd edition of the Summer Olympic Games is set to be held in Paris from July 26 to August 11 this year. Paris is 3 hours and 30 minutes behind Indian Standard Time. The upcoming Olympics event will surely be one of the biggest sporting tournaments held in the last few years. In this blog post, we compare the achievements of two of the greatest Olympic gold medalist in India: Abhinav Bindra and Neeraj Chopra.

Abhinav Bindra vs Neeraj Chopra - Who is the greatest Olympic gold medalist in India?

Abhinav Bindra and Neeraj Chopra are the only Individual Olympics heroes to have won individual gold medals at the Summer Olympics in India's 75 years of independence and over 100 years of Olympic Games history. Here's a closer look at the achievements of two of the greatest Olympic gold medalist in India: Abhinav Bindra and Neeraj Chopra.

1. Abhinav Bindra: first-ever Olympic gold medalist in India

Olympic champion Abhinav Bindra will forever hold a place in sporting history as the first-ever Olympic gold medalist in India. The legendary Indian shooter won gold in men's 10m air rifle at Beijing 2008, in addition to a World Championship gold and multiple medals at the Commonwealth Games and the Asian Games. Born on September 28 1982, in Dehradun, Bindra began his sporting journey after taking inspiration from the shooters he saw on television. During the qualification round at the Athens 2004 Olympics, Abhinav Bindra set a new Olympic record in the 10m air rifle event. However, he couldn't find his form in the finals and finished outside of the podium places. He was honoured with the Padma Bhushan, India's third-highest civilian honour, as recognition for his efforts in 2009.

Since the Beijing Olympics 2008, every time India has sent their Olympic contingent, Abhinav Bindra has been the centre of attention. The athletes have faced pressure and high expectations to meet Bindra's standards. The star Rifle shooter etched his legacy in the history books in 2008 when he became the first-ever Olympic gold medalist in India. Bindra won the gold medal in the men's 10m Air Rifle. With 51 days left before the start of the much-awaited 2024 Summer Olympics, there couldn't be a better day to cherish Abhinav Bindra. Olympic champion Abhinav Bindra will be one of the Olympic torch bearers of the Paris Olympics 2024. Among many records, Abhinav Bindra is the 3rd youngest Indian to represent the nation at the Olympic Games (17 years and 356 days). Famously known as the golden boy of Indian Shooting, Bindra comes in the top 2 Indian athletes with the most Olympic appearances (4 Olympic appearances).

2. Defending Olympic Javelin throw champion Neeraj Chopra ready for the 2024 Summer Olympics

Talking about the Olympics news, one cannot forget the moment the final throw was taken at the men's Javelin throw event in the Tokyo Olympics. Neeraj Chopra again secured his place in the history books, clinching the gold medal in Tokyo with a throw measuring 87.58m, making him the first Indian track and field athlete to achieve this feat at the Olympics. Before Neeraj Chopra's outstanding performance in Tokyo, India's track record in athletics at the Summer Olympic Games was marked by heartbreaking near-misses. Milkha Singh and PT Usha narrowly missed out on podium finishes at Rome 1960 and Los Angeles 1984, respectively, falling short by a fraction of a second. Neeraj Chopra's gold medal in Tokyo marked a new era for Indian athletics. It was India's second Olympic gold, following shooter Abhinav Bindra's 10m air rifle triumph in Beijing 2008.

Neeraj Chopra has emerged as one of India's most respected athletes from humble beginnings. His interest in the sport was sparked by an accidental encounter with a javelin soaring into the sky when he was an overweight boy in Panipat. Neeraj's journey has been remarkable. He is now a proud member of the top javelin throwing community, having won every major championship in the sport. Neeraj Chopra's international awards prove his unparalleled talent and commitment, making him the greatest Olympic gold medalist in India. Notably, he has solidified his position as a dominant force in the field by clinching gold medals at both the Olympics and world championships. 

The reigning Olympic Javelin throw champion Neeraj Chopra has encountered a minor setback after participating in two events at the beginning of his 2024 season. He came in second place in the Doha Diamond League and emerged as the winner in the Federation Cup in Bhubaneswar, where he didn't have to push himself to the limit. Neeraj has withdrawn from the Ostrava Golden Spike event on May 28 due to concerns about his adductor, which he injured during training. However, in a massive relief for Indian fans, Neeraj Chopra is recovering well and is all set to take Indian athletics forward. He emphasized that he isn't seriously injured and has withdrawn as a precaution to avoid any risks in an Olympic year.

Neeraj Chopra's Javelin throw records