Vijay Kumar interview: "If I don't train for even a day, I feel uneasy"

Vijay Kumar. You can call him India’s Shooting star as he gave India the first silver lining in the London Olympics this year. This shy shooter who hails from a small village called Harsour in Himachal Pradesh has also won medals for India in Commonwealth Games, Asian Games and the World Cup. He has recently been promoted to the rank of Subedar Major in the army and has worked day and night for the medal he holds with great pride today. He has been conferred the Rajiv Gandhi Khel Ratan Award recently for his outstanding performance in the Olympics. In an exclusive interview with Sportskeeda correspondent Taruka Srivastav, Vijay Kumar talked about his preparation for the Olympics and his elation at winning a medal.

Did you think there was a realistic chance at a medal before the Olympics started?

To be very honest, no, I din’t think of getting a medal as this was my first Olympics and all I wanted was to give it a best shot.

You were one of the lesser known shooters entering the Olympics, compared to Gagan Narang or Abhinav Bindra or Sodhi. Did that take some of the pressure off?

Well, I have never taken pressure about anything in life. I am a very calm person. I knew I had to perform well as I had trained really hard for it.

Shooting seems like a very precision-based sport, with a player’s level of concentration and mental fitness being very important. How much preparation goes into each round of a shooting competition in a mega-event like the Olympics?

My event is one of the toughest in all of sports. It requires a great amount of practise to be shooting at the highest level. I am completely obsessed with my training and I hardly ever miss out on it. If I don’t train for even a day, I feel uneasy. I have been training for years now, and concentration comes in naturally. Whatever work I do, I do it with full focus and sincerity. In shooting, you have very less time to think. It’s all spontaneous, so mentally, you have to be very strong and control the adrenaline rush.

Did you feel the pressure when Pupo was shooting away high scores, or were you aiming for the silver knowing that he was out of reach?

I was only thinking of how to shoot my next shot. I had decided in my mind that I have to make a podium finish and therefore was just trying to keep it simple by correcting my mistakes.

Will you quit the Army now that you have an offer from S.A.I.?

The Army has given me a lot. My dad was an ex-army man. Let’s see, I haven’t decided as yet.

Shooting is one of the lesser-known sports in India, and only bursts into prominence when the Olympics come around once in 4 years. Do you think such a condition is conducive to the further growth of shooting in the country?

Well, unfortunately, this is the truth. However, now that we know that India has potential in shooting, I hope there will be more recognition and support.

Indians have been doing well in shooting for quite some time now. What do you think is the secret to our success?

Indian shooters have always been very good. We have more belief and confidence now in ourselves and our game.

Are you satisfied with winning this medal? What are your future plans for your career?

Yes, I am very happy with my medal. I will be practising for upcoming tournaments and will be preparing for 2014.