Olympics: President congratulates Vijay on winning silver

LONDON, ENGLAND – AUGUST 03: Vijay Kumar of India celebrates winning the silver medal in the Men

New Delhi, Aug 4 (IANS) President Pranab Mukherjee Saturday congratulated shooter Vijay Kumar on winning a silver medal at the London Olympics, and said the army man has done “India proud.”

“I would like to extend my hearty congratulations and best wishes to you for having done India proud by winning a silver medal at the 25-metre rapid fire pistol event of the London Olympics,” the president, in a written statement issued here, said.

“The whole country joins you and your family in celebrating this impressive achievement,” he added.

Vijay Kumar, a junior commissioned officer (JCO), finished second in the men’s 25-metre rapid fire pistol to give the country its second medal from the Games, after marksman Gagan Narang opened India’s tally Monday by shooting a bronze in men’s 10m air rifle competition at the Royal Artillery Barracks.

Kumar thus became the second Indian after double trap shooter Rajyavardhan Singh Rathore to win an individual Olympic silver medal. Rathore achieved his feat in 2004 Athens Games.