Olympian Vijay Kumar: One forgets ABCD of sport if he is away from training for 3-4 years

The London Games silver medallist pistol shooter Kumar, incidentally, had taken a long break from shooting to focus on his career with the police in Himachal Pradesh.

Vijay Kumar will be returning to competition at the 2022 National Games in Gujarat | Photo Credit: Sandeep Saxena

Having returned to top-flight shooting after a long sabbatical, Olympic silver medallist Vijay Kumar feels athletes could “forget the ABCD of sport” if they stay away from action for three-four years.

London Games silver medallist pistol shooter Kumar, incidentally, had taken a long break from shooting to focus on his career with the police in Himachal Pradesh. It included intense academic training, field training and border training, taking up most of his time and attention.

It was only last year that he returned to the sport, hoping to dominate it one more time.

“Spending time away was not a big deal since I was providing job security for myself. It is not a big deal, either, starting the sport from scratch,” he said.

He conceded, though that muscle memory built over many years as a sport shooter was lost during police training.

“Technique goes for a toss. If one doesn’t train and compete for three or four years, one forgets the basics, the ABCD of sport. When you return at the highest level, you realise you have all but forgotten how to play,” he rued.

Kumar has a clear target in mind for the upcoming National Games: emulate his own five-gold, one-bronze medal haul during the 2015 edition in Thiruvananthapuram.

The upcoming edition is starting in Ahmedabad on September 29.

“That (performance) is a thing of the past. I believe I can push myself more and can even excel at the Olympic level once again. That single goal has fuelled my motivation,” the 2012 Olympic medallist said, revealing that he has been preparing for the Gujarat Games for over six months.

“I am happy that within a year of my return to shooting, I have made it for my fourth National Games. I will try to perform well here ahead of the World Championships,” the 37-year-old said.

The World Championships will be held in Cairo from October 12.

“The competition at the National Games will be intense, since the best 16 shooters in each event will be there. We have all been on the circuit, competing in championships and National trials since November last year.

“Each has been shooting good scores and that will make the competition really absorbing,” Kumar said.

Pushed to recall his 2015 exploits, Kumar said making the Services team for the National Games was itself an achievement since excellent shooters from Army, Air Force and Navy were in the fray.

“It was special to beat so many of the country’s best shooters to win five gold in the 2015 Games. Yes, it has been among my best efforts at home,” he said.

He had turned out for Services in the last three National Games in Guwahati (2007), Ranchi (2011) and Thiruvananthapuram (2015), but now he will wear Himachal Pradesh colours.

“There is no difference in how I view the competition, though I am representing my state now. I will, as always, try to give my best,” said the deputy superintendent of police.