Who is Vijayveer Sidhu? All you need to know about the Indian shooter competing at Paris 2024 Olympics
Indian pistol ace Vijayveer Sidhu is one of the 21 Indian shooters competing to end the country’s 12-year Olympic medal drought in shooting at the 2024 Paris Games.
Sidhu, 24, is one of the many rising stars in the Indian shooting contingent who cemented their place in the national team after the débâcle at the Tokyo 2020 Olympics. After tasting considerable success at junior-level international events, the Ludhiana-native pistol shooter gained fame after winning a bronze medal at the Asian Games in Hangzhou.
With the wind of that victory behind him, Vijayveer Sidhu will represent his nation at the 25m rapid fire pistol event in the Paris 2024 Olympics.
Vijayveer Sidhu’s career in brief
Vijayveer Sidhu’s career in pistol shooting started as a young boy aged eight when he and his twin brother got hooked to the sport after taking part in the gun range at his school. After showing some early promise in the sport, Vijayveer and his brother Udhayveer moved to Chandigarh in 2015 for further training.
However, the death of his father soon after put a dent in Vijayveer’s confidence, but with support from his mother Ranu Kaur, he continued his training and soon became an expert with both the air pistol and rapid-fire pistol.
Vijayveer Sidhu tasted his first international success after winning a gold medal in the 25m air pistol event at the ISSF Junior World Cup in Suhl. Interestingly, he borrowed a pistol from future Paris 2024 Olympics teammate Arjun Cheema at the tournament.
The shooting prodigy continued his upward rise despite his tender age. He won two silver medals and a gold medal in the 2021 ISSF World Cup in New Delhi, and won another silver medal in the 25m rapid fire pistol team event in the Changwon World Cup next year.
Vijayveer Sidhu’s crowning moment of glory came when he was a part of the three-man team – including Adarsh Singh and Anish Bhanwala – that won a bronze medal in the 25m Rapid Fire event at the 2022 Asian Games.
Vijayveer then secured his place at the Paris 2024 Olympics by winning a silver medal at the Asia Olympic Qualifiers in January. Now in France, he will compete in his favorite pistol event at the Paris 2024 Olympics alongside Anish Bhanwala with an aim to secure a podium finish in his debut Olympic Games.