PUNE:
Vijay Kumar,
2012 London Games
silver medallist in the 25m rapid fire event, made his way to the Indian shooting team in his pet event after a gap of four years.
Vijay, 36, who was with the
Indian Army earlier and is now Deputy Superintendent of Police in Shimla, is placed second in the 25m rapid fire team behind Punjab youngster
Vijayveer Sidhu.
“I feel it was time I came back to shooting. I had not touched my pistol till the Nationals last year. But once I did, I knew I would make it to the team soon. I am happy that it happened today,” Vijay told TOI.
The
National Rifle Association of India
(NRAI) on Thursday announced the pistol team who will train at national camps. Only rifle shooters will travel for the
ISSF World Cup
to be held in Baku.
Jitu
Rai - another top shooter who played in the Olympics in 2016 - made it to the national team albeit in a non-Olympic event (50m pistol). The 32-year-old said coming back to the team feels like winning a medal.
The Armyman had last played for India in 2018.
“This is just a first step. My bigger aim is to make it to the 10m air pistol team and prepare for the Paris 2024 Games,” Jitu, who is back to the Army Marksman Unit in Mhow to train, told TOI.
After losing his place in the Indian team coupled with poor form, Jitu was sent back to his unit and he has also served with the 11 Gorkha Rifles.
But now, the Subedar Major has turned a new leaf and is aiming higher.
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