Vijay Kumar Hints at Retirement from Competitive Shooting After National Championship

New Delhi, Dec 12 (NationPress) Olympic silver medallist Vijay Kumar has stated that the 67th National Shooting Championship will likely be his last competitive nationals, bringing an end to his more than two-decade relationship with this prestigious event.

“This will be my 23rd National championship and probably 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 engaged in private coaching and has trained numerous shooters within the Indian Army. Discussing his aspirations, 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.”

Reflecting on the remarkable increase in participants and the legacy he is leaving, he remarked, “Of course I feel proud of the progress we’ve made. We are just a link in a larger chain, and there have been players before me who laid the foundation. We have made our contributions, and now the current generation of shooters is 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.

“Additionally, the enhancements in infrastructure, supported by both the government and associations, are contributing positively. This development will significantly enhance 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 nearly all states and union territories, as well as representatives from the armed forces and public institutions like ONGC and the Railways.

All top shooters in the country will be competing in the nationals, with scores that will be considered when selecting the Indian team for the 2025 international season.