Olympic silver medallist Vijay Kumar’s seven-year long struggle to get a job finally came through as the Himachal Pradesh government assured him of a Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP) post.
The 33-year-old Vijay, who hails from Hamirpur in Himachal, was on the lookout for a suitable post after he retired from the army two years ago.
“I approached many organisations but no one was willing to take me on board. I am happy that finally my native state has stood up for me,” said Vijay who had won a silver medal in the men’s 25m rapid fire at the London 2012 Olympics.
“The chief minister Jai Ram Thakur called me to convey that the cabinet had taken the decision to give me the DSP post and that I could expect the order soon,” said Vijay
Vijay had joined the Indian Army in 2001 and in 2003 was attached to the Army Marksmanship Unit (AMU) in Mhow where he was groomed to emerge as one of country’s best pistol shooter.
Apart from becoming the first pistol shooter from India to win an Olympic medal, Vijay had won three gold and one silver medal in the 2010 Delhi Commonwealth Games, two gold medals at the 2006 Melbourne Commonwealth Games, one gold and one bronze in 2006 Doha Asian Games, two bronze medals at the 2010 Guangzhou Asian Games and also has two World Cup silver medals to his name.
Vijay was awarded the Rajiv Gandhi Khel Ratna in 2012 and Padma Shri in 2013.
