Probably my last competitive National Championship, says Olympic medallist Vijay Kumar

New Delhi (The Uttam Hindu): Olympic silver medallist Vijay Kumar has said that the 67th National Shooting Championship will probably be his last competitive nationals, ending his more than two-decade association with the competition. “This will be my 23rd National championship and probably be my last competitive one as I am planning to stop competitive training and shift to coaching. I might continue to participate in national-to-national competition to remain in touch with the sport but I am planning to stop competitive shooting,” said the 2012 London Olympics medal winner.

Vijay is already doing private coaching and has mentored many shooters in the Indian Army. Sharing his future plans, he said, “I want to guide and inspire the younger generation. My goal is to share the knowledge and insights I’ve gained over the years with them, and help develop the skills necessary to compete at the international level, excel in the competitive arena, and ultimately bring pride to our country.” Talking about the record number of participants and the legacy he is leaving behind, “Of course I feel proud of the progress we’ve made. We are just a link in a larger chain, there have been players before me who laid the foundation, and we have made our contributions, and now the current generation of shooters are playing their part. If we look back, there were only around 400-500 participants, but now, we have over 13,000, which is a record number. This surge in numbers means that more talented individuals are emerging, and I am confident that it will result in more medals for our country at the Olympics. "Also, the improvements in infrastructure, supported by both the government and the associations, are playing a part. This development will play a significant role in enhancing our chances of achieving even greater success on the world stage.” A total of 40 teams will be represented at the 67th Shooting Nationals including almost all states and union territories as well as those representing the armed forces of the country and public institutions like the ONGC and the Railways. All top shooters of the country will be participating in the nationals, whose scores will be counted when the Indian team for the 2025 international season is declared.