Vijay Kumar (sport shooter)

Last updated

Vijay Kumar Sharma
AVSM, SM
The President, Shri Pranab Mukherjee presenting the Padma Shri Award to Shri Vijay Kumar, at an Investiture Ceremony-II, at Rashtrapati Bhavan, in New Delhi on April 20, 2013.jpg
The President, Shri Pranab Mukherjee presenting the Padma Shri Award to Vijay Kumar, in 2013
Personal details
Born (1985-08-19) 19 August 1985 (age 39)
Harsour, Hamirpur
Himachal Pradesh, India
Military service
AllegianceFlag of India.svg  India
Branch/serviceFlag of Indian Army.svg  Indian Army
Years of service2001 – 2017
Rank Captain of the Indian Army.svg Honorary Captain
Awards Padma Shri
Ati Vishisht Seva Medal
Sena Medal
Rajiv Gandhi Khel Ratna
Arjuna Award
Sports career
Sport Shooting
Event 25 metre rapid fire pistol
Medal record
Men's shooting [1]
Representing Flag of India.svg  India
Event1st2nd3rd
Olympic Games 1
Commonwealth Games 51
Asian Games 12
ISSF World Cup 2
Total552
Olympic Games
Olympic rings.svg
Silver medal icon (S initial).svg 2012 London 25 m rapid fire pistol
ISSF World Cup
Silver medal icon (S initial).svg 2009 Beijing 25m Rapid Fire Pistol
Silver medal icon (S initial).svg 2011 Fort Benning 25m Rapid Fire Pistol
Commonwealth Games
Gold medal icon (G initial).svg 2006 Melbourne 25m Rapid Fire Pistol (Singles)
Gold medal icon (G initial).svg 2006 Melbourne 25m Rapid Fire Pistol (Pairs)
Gold medal icon (G initial).svg 2010 Delhi 25 metre rapid fire pistol pairs
Gold medal icon (G initial).svg 2010 Delhi 25 metre rapid fire pistol singles
Gold medal icon (G initial).svg 2010 Delhi 25-metre centre fire pistol pairs
Silver medal icon (S initial).svg 2010 Delhi 25-metre centre fire pistol singles
Asian Games
Silver medal icon (S initial).svg 2014 Incheon 25m Centre Fire Pistol (Team)
Bronze medal icon (B initial).svg 2006 Doha 25m Rapid Fire Pistol
Bronze medal icon (B initial).svg 2010 Guangzhou 25m Centre Fire Pistol
Asian Championships
Gold medal icon (G initial).svg 2012 Doha 25 m standard pistol
Silver medal icon (S initial).svg 2007 Kuwait City 25 m center fire pistol
Silver medal icon (S initial).svg2007 Kuwait City25 m center fire pistol team
Silver medal icon (S initial).svg2012 Doha25 m rapid fire pistol team

Honorary Captain Vijay Kumar Sharma, AVSM, SM (born 19 August 1985) is an Indian sport shooter. He won the silver medal in the individual 25 metre rapid fire pistol event at the 2012 Summer Olympics. [2] Kumar hails from Barsar village of Hamirpur district of Himachal Pradesh and is a retired Subedar Major (Warrant Officer Class I) in the Dogra Regiment (16th Battalion) Indian Army, who was later promoted to Honorary Captain Rank. [3] Vijay Kumar is supported by the Olympic Gold Quest initiative. He is the only Indian to have won a medal at 25m rapid Fire Pistol . He has been posted at Indian Army Marksmanship Unit (AMU) Mhow since 2003 where he is being coached by the Russian Pavel Smirnov. [4]

Contents

Early life and background

Born in Himachal Pradesh, Kumar is the son of Banku Ram, a retired Indian Army subedar , and his wife Roshni Devi. According to his father, while Kumar was "always intrigued" by his father's guns, he only developed his interest in shooting after enlisting in the Indian Army. [5] Kumar joined the Indian Army in 2001 as a sepoy (private), and was inducted into the Army Marksmanship Unit (AMU) at Mhow in 2003. His prowess ensured him a direct promotion from sepoy to havildar (sergeant) by 2006. [6] He was promoted to naib subedar on 20 April 2006. [7]

Shooting career

Early career (2006–2009)

At the 2006 Commonwealth Games, he won two gold medals: the individual 25 meter rapid fire pistol competition and the pairs competition in the same event together with Pemba Tamang. The same year, he won a bronze medal in the Asian Games. [8] In 2006, he was awarded the Arjuna award by the Indian government. [9]

In 2007, he finished second at the Asian Championship in 25 metre center-fire pistol. He also won a silver medal at the 2009 ISSF World Cup Beijing in rapid fire pistol, where he was defeated by 0.1 points. He was promoted to subedar on 10 February 2009 (seniority from 1 July 2008) [10]

Commonwealth and Olympic glory (2010–14)

In the 2010 Commonwealth Games, he won three gold medals and one silver. In 25 metre rapid fire pistol pairs, Gurpreet Singh and Vijay Kumar won the gold medal scoring 1162 points, setting a new Commonwealth games record. He won the 25 meter rapid fire pistol singles event and also teamed up with Harpreet Singh to win the 25-metre center fire pistol pairs event. In the 25-metre centre fire pistol singles, he finished second winning a silver, losing out to fellow Indian Harpreet Singh.

Kumar won the silver medal in the 25 m rapid fire pistol event at 2012 London Olympics. [11] He finished with an average score of 9.767 and had a score of 293 with 7 inner 10s in the first stage. Vijay's silver was the second medal for India at London 2012. [12] Earlier Kumar failed to qualify for the men's 10 m air pistol finals after finishing 31st on 28 July 2012. [13]

Kumar was chosen to be the Indian flagbearer at the 2014 Commonwealth Games. [9] The Indian trio of Vijay Kumar, Pemba Tamang and Gurpreet Singh won the silver medal in the 25m center fire event at the 2014 Asian Games, held at Incheon, South Korea. The team scored a total of 1740, two behind gold medalists China. [14]

Later career

Vijay Kumar retired from the army in 2017, after 15 years of service. As of 2019, he is finishing a bachelor's degree in Business Administration from Manav Rachna University in Faridabad, and has been offered a direct-entry position as deputy superintendent of police (DSP) by the Himachal Pradesh state government. [15]

Performance timelines

25 metre rapid fire pistol

20022006200720082009201020112012201320142015
Olympic GamesNot heldNot heldSilver medal icon.svg Silver Not held
World ChampionshipsNot held 34th
569
Not held 11th
578
Not held 36th
569
Not held
Asian Games/AC4th
577+198.3
14th
566
Not held7th
577
Not held
Commonwealth GamesNot heldGold medal icon.svg Gold
581+197.2
Not heldGold medal icon.svg Gold
583+204.5
Not held 8th
274
Not held
World Cup 1 19th
575
35th
561
10th
577
World Cup 2 12th
576
34th
567
8th
580
Silver medal icon.svg Silver
581+199.4
World Cup 3 37th
568
14th
572
15th
577
16th
576
World Cup 4 38th
560
25th
573
40th
567
33rd
562
21st
572
World Cup FinalNQNQNQNQ 4th
579

25 metre center-fire pistol

20062007
World Championships 27th
577
Not held
Asian Games/AC9th
580
Silver medal icon.svg Silver
582
Commonwealth GamesNot held

25-metre standard pistol

2007
World ChampionshipsNot held
Asian Games/AC12th
562
Commonwealth GamesNot held
OlympicsNot held

10 metre air pistol

2005
Olympic GamesNot held
World Championships2nd
Asian Games/AC
Commonwealth GamesNot held
World Cup 1
World Cup 2
World Cup 389th
560
World Cup 473rd
564
World Cup FinalNQ

Awards and recognition

For winning the silver medal at 2012 London Olympics:

Medal bar

Padma Shri Ribbon.svg Ati Vishisht Seva Medal ribbon.svg
Sena Medal ribbon.svg IND Meritorious Service Medal Ribbon.svg IND 50th Anniversary Independence medal.svg IND 9YearsServiceMedalRibbon.svg
Padma Shri Ati Vishist Seva Medal
Sena Medal Meritorious Service Medal 50th Anniversary of Independence Medal 9 Years Long Service Medal

[22]

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">India at the 2006 Commonwealth Games</span> Sporting event delegation

India was represented at the 2006 Commonwealth Games in Melbourne by a 270-member strong contingent comprising 183 sportspersons and 77 officials. 2004 Summer Olympics silver medalist Rajyavardhan Singh Rathore was the flag bearer for India.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Gagan Narang</span> Indian sport shooter

Gagan Narang is an Indian sport shooter, supported by the Olympic Gold Quest. He won the bronze medal in the Men's 10 m Air Rifle Event at the 2012 Summer Olympics in London with a final score of 701.1 on 30 July 2012. He was also a member of prestigious Padma award committee 2023.

Samaresh Jung is an Indian sport shooter. He is an air pistol specialist. At the 2002 Commonwealth Games in Manchester, he won two gold medals, in the men's free pistol pairs and in the open event of 25 m standard pistol pairs, both in partnership with Jaspal Rana. He contested in the 10 m air pistol and 50 m pistol events at the 2008 Summer Olympics in Beijing, but failed to reach the finals in both events.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Jaspal Rana</span> Indian sport shooter

Jaspal Rana is an Indian sport shooter and pistol coach. He contested mainly in the 25 m Centre Fire Pistol category. In a major accomplishment at the 2006 Asian Games, Rana won three gold medals and equaled the world record in 25 m Center Fire Pistol, competing in his fourth Asian Games since 1994 Asian Games. Rana is also a Commonwealth Games medalist, winning gold medals at the 1998, 2002, and 2006 Commonwealth Games. One of his most successful events was the 2002 Commonwealth Games, where he won six medals including the gold for Men's 25m Center Fire Pistol.

Pemba Tamang is an Indian sport shooter. He won the gold medal in the Men's 25 metre rapid fire pistol (Pairs) with Vijay Kumar and the silver medal in the Men's 25 metre rapid fire pistol at the 2006 Commonwealth Games.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Rahi Sarnobat</span> Indian sport shooter

Rahi Jeevan Sarnobat is a female athlete from India who competes in the 25 metre pistol shooting event. She won her first gold medal at the 2008 Commonwealth Youth Games in Pune, India. She is the first woman to win a gold medal in shooting at the Asian Games for India – she won the gold at the 2018 Jakarta Palembang Asian Games in the women's 25 metre pistol event. She won two gold medals in 2010 Commonwealth Games in New Delhi, the first of the two golds in coming in the 25 metre pistol pair event with Anisa Sayyed. She had previously won gold in the 25 metre pistol event at the 2008 Youth Commonwealth Games, which were held in India.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Gurpreet Singh (sport shooter)</span> Indian sports shooter (born 1987)

Subedar Gurpreet Singh is an Indian sports shooter. He won two gold medals in shooting events at the 2010 Commonwealth Games held in India. He paired up with Vijay Kumar to win a gold in the Men's 25m Rapid Fire Pistol (Pairs) on 7 October 2010. On the same day, he and Omkar Singh won another gold medal in the Men's 10m Air Pistol (Pairs). He also won an individual bronze in Men's 25m rapid fire pistol (Singles) at the event. He hails from and is currently serving the Indian army.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Omkar Singh</span> Indian sport shooter (born 1984)

Master Chief Petty Officer Omkar Singh is an Indian sports shooter. He won three gold medals and a silver medal in shooting events at the 2010 Commonwealth Games held in Delhi. He hails from Anuppur district of Madhya Pradesh and is currently serving the Indian Navy.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Heena Sidhu</span> Indian sport shooter

Heena Sidhu is an Indian sport shooter. On 7 April 2014, Sidhu became the first Indian pistol shooter to reach number one in world rankings by the International Shooting Sport Federation. In 2013, Sidhu became the first Indian pistol shooter to win a gold medal in an ISSF World Cup finals when she won the 10-metre air pistol event. In 2014, Sidhu was the World record holder in the 10-metre air pistol event with a final score of 203.8. Sidhu is right handed and is right eye dominant.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Shooting sports in India</span> Recreational and competitive level shooting in India

Shooting is an important Olympic sport in India. Of India's 41 Olympic medals, seven have come from shooting, including a gold by Abhinav Bindra in the 2008 Olympics. Indian shooters who have excelled at international events include Abhinav Bindra, Jaspal Rana, Jitu Rai, Rajyavardhan Singh Rathore, Vijay Kumar, Gagan Narang, Apurvi Chandela, Ronjan Sodhi, Anjali Bhagwat, Heena Sidhu, Shreyasi Singh, Manu Bhaker, Avani Lekhara, Mona Agarwal, Anisa Sayyed, Rahi Sarnobat, Anantjeet Singh Naruka, and Saurabh Chaudhary. Indian shooter Shimon Sharif is a well known shooting expert.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Joydeep Karmakar</span> Indian sport shooter

Joydeep Karmakar is an Indian sports shooter from Kolkata, West Bengal. He represented India in rifle prone events in various championships. started his sports career in 1989. He became a Junior National Champion in his first Nationals in 1994. He has represented India in 28 World Cups 2 Commonwealth Games 1 Asian Games 3 World Championships. He qualified to represent India at London 2012 Summer Olympics in men's 50 metre rifle prone event. His career best world ranking is 4th and in Asia 1st in 2010 to 2012.

Martin Strnad is a Czech sport shooter. He won a silver medal in the men's rapid fire pistol at the 2009 ISSF World Cup series in Munich, Germany, with a total score of 780.2 points. He won a gold medal in the men's rapid fire pistol at the 2013 ISSF World Cup series in Bangkok, Thailand.

Roman Romanovych Bondaruk is a Ukrainian sport shooter.

Bruce James Quick is an Australian sport shooter. Since 1988, Quick had won a total of forty three medals in the rapid fire, centre fire, standard pistol, 50m pistol and Air pistol at the Oceanian Shooting Championships. He also captured a bronze medal in the rapid fire pistol pairs, along with his partner David Chapman at the 2010 Commonwealth Games in Delhi, India, with a combined score of 1,125 points.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Jitu Rai</span> Indian sport shooter

Jitu Rai is an Indian Army Subedar Major who competes in the 10 metre air pistol and 50 metre pistol events. The Government of India announced the Khel Ratna Award for him in 2016. In 2020, the Government of India honoured him with the Padma Shri, the fourth highest civilian award in the Republic of India.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Manu Bhaker</span> Indian sport shooter (born 2002)

Manu Bhaker is an Indian sport shooter. She has won 2 medals at the Olympics, 21 medals at the World Championships and World Cup, 1 medal at Commonwealth Games, and 7 medals at the Asian Games and Asian Championships. Bhaker won the bronze medal in the 10m pistol event at the 2024 Paris Olympics and became the first Indian woman shooter to win an Olympics medal. She won another bronze in the 10m pistol mixed team event, thus becoming the first Indian to win two medals in a single Olympic Games.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Anish Bhanwala</span> Indian shooter

Anish Bhanwala is an Indian pistol shooter who competes in the 25 meter rapid fire pistol, 25 meter pistol, and 25 meter standard pistol events. He has been a part of the Indian shooting team since 2017. He represented India at the 2018 Commonwealth Games, 2018 Asian Games, ISSF Junior World Championship 2017 (Suhl), Commonwealth Shooting Championships 2017 (Brisbane), World Shooting Championships 2018 and numerous ISSF Senior and Junior World Cups and South Asian Games, Kathmandu.

Adarsh Singh is an Indian sport shooter who competes in the 25 meter rapid fire pistol and 10 meter air pistol. He won silver at the ISSF World Cup 2021(New Delhi) in the 25m Rapid Fire Men Team Event. He has also won Gold at South Asian Games 2019 and Bronze at Asian Shooting Championship the same year . Recently he has added a Bronze Medal to his Tally at the Asian Games 2022.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Esha Singh</span> Indian amateur shooter (born 2005)

Esha Singh is an Indian sport shooter. She became the youngest national champion in the 10 meter air pistol in 2018 at the age of 13. Besides 10 meter air pistol, she also competes in 25 meter standard pistol and 25 meter pistol events.

Rhythm Sangwan is an Indian sport shooter who usually competes in 10 meter air pistol and 25 meter pistol. She has won medals in Shooting World Cups and Shooting Championship at junior as well as at senior level.

References

  1. "ISSF – International Shooting Sport Federation – issf-sports.org". issf-sports.org. Retrieved 22 September 2020.
  2. Vijay Kumar bags silver in London Olympics 2012
  3. 1 2 NDTV Sports (3 August 2012). "Profile: Vijay Kumar". NDTV . Retrieved 3 August 2012.
  4. "Pavel Smirnov appointed Indian pistol team coach".
  5. Bisht, Gaurav (4 August 2012). "Subedar from Himachal village conquers London". Hindustan Times. Retrieved 27 July 2019.
  6. Bisht, Gaurav (4 August 2012). "The rise & rise of Subedar Vijay Kumar". The Times of India. Retrieved 27 July 2019.
  7. "Part I-Section 4: Ministry of Defence (Army Branch)". The Gazette of India. 23 September 2006. p. 1344.
  8. "Vijay kumar wins bronze in Asian games". Archived from the original on 28 September 2007. Retrieved 22 December 2012.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: unfit URL (link)
  9. 1 2 "Glasgow 2014 – Vijay Kumar Profile". g2014results.thecgf.com. Retrieved 22 December 2012.
  10. "Part I-Section 4: Ministry of Defence (Army Branch)". The Gazette of India. 11 July 2009. p. 1198.
  11. "Vijay Kumar shoots silver medal in 25m Rapid Fire Pistol at London 2012 Olympics". Olympics Medal Tally. 3 August 2012. Retrieved 3 August 2012.
  12. "Olympics Shooting: Vijay Kumar wins Silver in 25m rapid fire pistol, becomes the fourth Indian shooter to win a medal in Olympics".
  13. "Vijay Kumar fails to qualify for 10m Air Pistol finals". The Times of India . London. Press Trust of India. 29 July 2012. Retrieved 3 August 2012.
  14. "Asian Games: Indian men win 25m centre fire pistol silver". rediff news. 26 September 2014. Retrieved 4 November 2014.
  15. Srinivasan, Kamesh (10 January 2019). "Olympic silver medallist Vijay turns cop". Sportstar – The Hindu. Retrieved 28 July 2019.
  16. "Rajiv Gandhi Khel Ratna Award and Arjuna Awards Announced". Press Information Bureau, Ministry of Youth Affairs & Sports. 19 August 2012. Retrieved 4 August 2013.
  17. "359 Republic Day Gallantry and other Defence Decorations Announced".
  18. "Padma Awards" (PDF). Ministry of Home Affairs, Government of India. 2015. Archived from the original (PDF) on 15 October 2015. Retrieved 21 July 2015.
  19. "Part I-Section 4: Ministry of Defence (Army Branch)". The Gazette of India. 8 June 2013. p. 871.
  20. "Vijay Kumar wins Olympic silver: Re 1 cash reward announced". The Economic Times. 3 August 2012. Archived from the original on 14 August 2014.
  21. "Rajasthan announces cash awards for Olympic winners Vijay Kumar, Sushil Kumar, Mary Kom, Saina Nehwal and others". The Times of India. 13 August 2012.
  22. "Vijay Kumar : Services Best Sportsman". Hillpost. 19 October 2012. Retrieved 28 July 2019.