Olympic Champion Abhinav Bindra Makes Chess Debut at FIDE World Cup
India’s first individual Olympic gold medallist Abhinav Bindra made a special appearance at the FIDE World Cup 2025, performing the ceremonial first move in the final between Chinese GM Wei Yi and GM Javokhir Sindarov of Uzbekistan.
The 43-year-old shooting legend, who inspired a generation of Indian athletes with his 2008 Beijing Olympics gold, was in Goa to witness top-quality chess matches and even tried his hand at the game, playing two matches with a FIDE official.
From Shooting Range to Chess Board
Although Bindra retired from competitive shooting after the 2016 Rio Olympics, his commitment to sporting excellence continues through the Abhinav Bindra Foundation, which focuses on identifying and nurturing future sports stars using global best practices in sports science.
Speaking to media at the event, the former world champion expressed his delight that chess enthusiasts could watch top players in action, thanking AICF and FIDE for bringing the World Cup to India after a 23-year gap.
Future Support for Chess Development
Bindra revealed he might support chess development in the future, stating:
“I am quite sure that chess is not just played sitting down. It requires some physical preparation. You can see many players who need self-discipline, both physically and mentally. They are very resilient. So, if the sport itself grows, I would be happy to assist any chess brands interested in it.”
