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Abhinav Bindra, the legendary Indian shooter who etched his name in Olympic history as the first Indian to win an individual gold medal, has been bestowed with the prestigious Olympic Order. This accolade, the highest honor bestowed by the International Olympic Committee (IOC), recognizes Bindra's exceptional contributions to the Olympic movement.Bindra, a member of the IOC Athletes Commission, is the first Indian to receive this coveted award. The decision to confer the Olympic Order on Bindra was made at the IOC Executive Board meeting in Paris on Saturday. The announcement was met with widespread acclaim from prominent figures in the sports world.In a letter dated July 20, 2024, IOC President Thomas Bach informed Bindra of the honor, stating, "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."The award ceremony will take place during the 142nd IOC Session in Paris on August 10. Bach expressed his sincere congratulations to Bindra, saying, "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 extended their congratulations to Bindra was Minister for Youth Affairs and Sports, Dr. Mansukh Mandaviya. In a post on X, formerly Twitter, Dr. Mandaviya hailed Bindra's achievement, saying, "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."The official handle of IPL side Lucknow Super Giants also celebrated Bindra's honor, posting a photo of him winning India's maiden individual gold medal in men's 10m air rifle in Beijing 2008, accompanied by the caption, "History-maker, once again, Congratulations Abhinav Bindra."Bindra's Olympic Order award is a testament to his unwavering dedication to the Olympic movement and his exceptional achievements as an athlete. His legacy as a pioneer in Indian sports continues to inspire generations of athletes and sports enthusiasts alike.

India's Olympic aspirations soar as they set their sights on surpassing their record medal haul at the 2024 Paris Olympics. The nation's athletes will strive to build upon their impressive performance in Tokyo, where they secured seven medals, including a historic gold in javelin throw by Neeraj Chopra.Chopra remains India's brightest medal prospect, having consistently showcased his dominance in the sport. His exceptional throws have propelled him to the forefront of global javelin competition, making him a strong contender for another podium finish in Paris.Badminton, another area of strength for India, may witness a shift in focus towards the men's doubles pair of Satwiksairaj Rankireddy and Chirag Shetty. The duo's recent world No. 1 ranking and current third-place standing bode well for their chances of making a significant impact in Paris.The Indian men's hockey team faces a formidable challenge in Pool B, which includes hockey powerhouses like Australia, Belgium, and Argentina. Despite their bronze medal triumph in Tokyo, the team's recent form has raised concerns. They will need to rediscover their winning ways to navigate the highly competitive group.Shooting, a discipline where India has traditionally excelled, will rely heavily on female shooters Sift Kaur Samra and Manu Bhaker. The duo's exceptional skills and experience will be crucial in India's quest for a medal in this event.An unexpected surprise may emerge in equestrian, where India will field a representative for the first time. Anush Agarwalla, a rising star in dressage, has demonstrated his potential with bronze and gold medals at the 2022 Asian Games. His performance in Paris could potentially add another dimension to India's medal hopes.

Shooting has witnessed a surge in popularity in India, thanks to the heroics of Abhinav Bindra and Gagan Narang. The sport has become as popular as cricket among Indian fans, and the country has secured quotas in every Olympic shooting category for the first time.However, the selection process for the Paris Olympics 2024 has been controversial. Trap shooter Bhowneesh Mendiratta, who had bagged India's first Paris quota, missed out on a berth after the national trials. Prithviraj Tondaiman was given the quota in his place.Other notable exclusions from the squad include former world champion Rudrankksh Patil, Tokyo Olympian Divyansh Singh Panwar, and Asian Games medallist Ashi Chouksey. Patil has expressed his disappointment, citing the inexperience of Sandeep Singh, who has been selected ahead of him.Gagan Narang, India's Chef de Mission for the Paris Olympics, has defended the selection process, calling it "fair" and "equal." He believes that the Covid-19 outbreak has negatively impacted India's shooters, as many lost their momentum and form.Narang has high hopes for his students, Elavenil Valarivan and Ramita Jindal, who will be representing India in Paris. He believes that they have the potential to perform well at the Olympics.Overall, India has a strong shooting contingent for the Paris Olympics. The team includes experienced shooters like Manu Bhaker and Aishwary Pratap Singh Tomar, as well as promising young talents like Valarivan and Jindal. The team will be hoping to make a mark on the world stage and bring home medals for India.

Asian Games gold medalist Ronjan Sodhi has expressed concerns about the preparations for the Indian shooting contingent ahead of the Paris Olympics. He believes that the National Rifle Association of India (NRAI) could have planned better and called for greater involvement of sportspersons in the running of the federation.Sodhi pointed out that the NRAI announced the 21-member contingent for Paris only two months before the Games, which left shooters struggling to plan their preparations and foreign exposure trips. He suggested that the announcement should have been made six months to a year in advance to give athletes ample time to prepare.The veteran marksman also criticized the lack of sportsperson representation in the NRAI panel responsible for selection matters. He believes that more athletes should be involved in decision-making to ensure that the process is fair and transparent."I think they (NRAI) must have thought about something, whether having trials at the last moment or whatever, whether there was a selection policy which was in order. I would say, there should be more sportspersons when it comes to selection matters in the whole (NRAI) panel," Sodhi said.Despite his concerns, Sodhi expressed optimism about the shooting contingent's chances in Paris. He acknowledged that the team is the largest ever and includes several talented young shooters."If you see, 21 shooters have qualified, which is the biggest (Indian) shooting contingent ever. I hope that they do well but shooting is one sport nobody can predict," he said.Sodhi emphasized that the contingent is well-trained and has a strong support team. He believes that the shooters will enter the competition with confidence, despite being relatively unknown."They are fearless, that's an advantage (with youngsters), they are the underdogs, nobody knows them. If I ask the names of the 21 shooters going to Paris, nobody would know most of their names," he said.

Anjum Moudgil, a seasoned rifle shooter, is preparing for the Paris Olympics with a wealth of experience and a fresh perspective. Despite the Tokyo Games' shooting setbacks, she remains optimistic and eager to share her lessons with the younger generation of shooters.Moudgil, a 2018 World Championships silver medalist, acknowledges the valuable insights she gains from her younger counterparts, such as Asian Games gold medalist Sift Kaur Samra. She admires their confidence and determination, which inspire her to push her limits and improve daily.In contrast to the extended camps prior to Tokyo, Moudgil has opted for solo training for Paris, seeking guidance from coaches only when necessary. This approach allows her to focus on the finer details and avoid distractions.Moudgil's journey has not been without its challenges. After a successful 2022, where she won World Cup medals and became world No. 1 in women's 50m 3P, she experienced a dip in form. She struggled with imposter syndrome, questioning her abilities despite her achievements.Through mental training and self-reflection, Moudgil overcame her doubts. She realized the importance of self-belief and the need to persevere through setbacks. Her solo training in Budapest has further boosted her confidence, allowing her to explore new techniques and enjoy the city's ambiance.Moudgil's journey from Tokyo to Paris has been marked by setbacks, self-doubt, and resilience. She has emerged stronger from each experience, gaining invaluable lessons that she is eager to share with the next generation of shooters.

Indian rifle shooter Sift Kaur Samra is approaching her Olympic debut with a calm and collected mindset, treating it as just another international competition. Despite the magnitude of the event, Samra remains focused on her technique and the familiar routine she has developed in previous tournaments."It's the same; it's just a normal World Cup for us, and we always give our best in the World Cup," Samra told IANS. "This is another tournament where we will give our best. Yes, because it (Olympics) comes every four years, it is much bigger than the other World Cups. But I feel like it's the same people we had in the last World Cup, so it's going to be the same."Samra, who holds the Asian Games gold medal and a World Record of 469.6, emphasizes the importance of consistency and following the same principles that have brought her success in the past. "I just have to do the same things I did in my previous tournaments and training sessions. It's just the name that changes, not the people or the technique," she added.When asked about her preparation for the Paris Olympics, Samra highlighted the importance of following a structured training schedule. "It's the same it's like when we had a camp and the schedule given to us so we just followed that," she said.Samra is part of a 21-member Indian shooting team that will compete in the Paris Games. While only two rifle shooters on the team have prior Olympic experience, Samra has sought advice from veterans in other sports, including Saina Nehwal, Mary Kom, and Sania Mirza."One of them was reaching here is not an easy job but I have done that so 'you have to be confident you have to believe in yourself and you will be doing the best'. Another one is, 'you should have that fire to do your best and get something from Paris'," she said.In terms of her individual performance, Samra aims to improve upon her previous scores. "I just want that it should not be the same as in the last tournament which I have shot, it should be like one more. I will try to shoot one more point. If it was like 593 so then I will shoot 594 if it's my day. So, let's see, let's check out yeah but this one gonna be my target."

India will send a contingent of 117 athletes and 140 support staff to the upcoming Paris Olympics, which will be held from July 26 to August 11. The contingent includes 29 athletes in athletics, 21 in shooting, and 19 in hockey. Other sports represented include table tennis (8), badminton (7), wrestling (6), archery (6), boxing (6), golf (4), tennis (3), swimming (2), sailing (2), equestrian (1), judo (1), rowing (1), and weightlifting (1).The contingent will be led by chef-de-mission Gagan Narang, a former Olympic bronze medalist in shooting. The Indian Olympic Association (IOA) has been allocated 11 contingent officials, including five medical team members, who will be accommodated in the Games Village. An additional 72 support staff, including coaches, physios, and psychologists, will be accommodated in hotels outside the Games Village at government expense.The shooting contingent, which is the second largest, consists of 11 women and 10 men. The athletics contingent includes 11 women and 18 men, while the table tennis contingent has four players in each category. Tokyo Olympic silver medalist Mirabai Chanu is the lone weightlifter in the contingent and will compete in the women's 49kg category.The government has emphasized the importance of anti-doping measures and has asked the IOA and concerned federations to take appropriate steps to avoid any doping embarrassments. The Paris Organizing Committee will provide three cars for the Indian contingent without drivers, and the Indian Embassy in Paris will assist in identifying and hiring temporary drivers.

Anjum Moudgil, a former world no. 1 shooter, has overcome mental challenges to secure a berth at the Paris Olympics. After being left out of the Indian team for the Asian Games and World Championships last year, Moudgil worked on her mental toughness and focused on her training.Moudgil, who competed in two events in Tokyo, will only participate in the women's 50m 3 position in Paris. She admitted that being dropped from the team for the Worlds and Asian Games due to inconsistent form was an eye-opener."I really took advantage of quotas and trials," Moudgil said. "I was too focused and positive in giving my best in the trials. I knew my strengths and how to work under pressure, and it paid off."Moudgil emphasized the importance of mental health, noting that the International Olympic Committee (IOC) has set up a Mentally Fit Helpline for athletes. "It's so important for all the federations and IOC to understand," she said. "It's important to understand the mental side, understand how it works for an athlete, understand mental toughness."India has named a strong 21-member shooting contingent for the Paris Games, including many youngsters. Moudgil is confident in the team's abilities. "All of them are confident, the team is doing very well," she said. "My expectation is for everyone to give their best, everyone going with a positive mindset."Moudgil is counting on her difficult Tokyo experience to shine in Paris. "Competing in one rather than two events both have positive and negative sides, but I am happy," she said. "The competition is very high in India and the pressure situations we face during trials will definitely help in Olympics."The shooting competitions of the Paris Olympics will be held at the National Shooting Center in Châteauroux, France. Moudgil is currently in Luxembourg for the final phase of her training before heading to France on July 21st.

Manu Bhaker, the 22-year-old pistol shooter, is preparing for her second Olympics with a renewed mindset and the guidance of her coach, Jaspal Rana. After a bitter fallout before the Tokyo Games, the duo has reconciled and is working together to achieve success in Paris.Bhaker, known for her Gen Z lingo, has matured significantly since her teenage years. She now understands the importance of not dwelling on failures or successes, recognizing that people's memories fade over time. Rana has noticed her growing maturity and believes she is more practical and calm.The relationship between Bhaker and Rana extends beyond coach and athlete. Rana serves as her mental coach, fitness coach, yoga coach, father figure, and friend. He has helped her regain her love for shooting and find peace in the foothills of Dehradun.Rana emphasizes the importance of making Bhaker an independent shooter and not overanalyzing scores or data. He believes in her abilities and encourages her to be brave and free in her approach. Bhaker credits Rana with helping her "chill" and stop working with a sports psychologist.Despite their different interests, Bhaker and Rana share a close bond. They go for walks together in the evening, where Bhaker can talk about anything she wishes. Rana provides her with the support and guidance she needs, both on and off the range.Bhaker's newfound approach is evident in her preparation for the Paris Olympics. She is determined to avoid unnecessary pressure and focus on enjoying the moment. Rana's presence at the range gives her courage and confidence.