Indian Army welcomes home silver medalist Vijay Kumar
Olympic silver medallist pistol shooter Vijay Kumar returned home from London Wednesday to a rousing welcome by the Indian Army, which was out in full force and left no stone unturned to honour the hero.
Much before the Lufthansa flight touched had down, preparations had started at the international airport.
And as soon as Kumar walked out with his Russian coach Pavel Smirnov, celebrations broke out.
An army band played the national anthem and then the drums thundered. Senior army officers welcomed Kumar with garlands. The Subedar with the Dogra regiment posed with his silver medal for the shutterbugs.
“It is a great reception and I am really touched by it. This is the first time I am getting such a welcome,” Kumar told reporters at the airport.
Kumar was then driven away in an open Gypsy to to the army headquarters, where more celebrations are planned.
Kumar says he is unhappy with the Indian Army for not being given a single promotion in the last six years despite winning medals at major international events.
Sports minister Ajay Maken has asked the defence ministry to change its promotion rules for outstanding sportspersons. The sports ministry has made provisions for three out of turn promotions for Olympic medalists.
But the Army Sports Control Board has informed Maken that Kumar is eligible for only an out-of-turn promotion to subedar major.
Kumar, however, maintains that this was already due before winning the silver at London.
“I had done the country proud by winning at major events in 2006, Delhi 2010 (CWG) and London 2012 and was expecting promotion and decorations. As sportspersons we also have expectations,” Kumar said.
“Offers have started to pour in from all quarters and the sports minister has openly said that I can be given a job in SAI at the IAS officer’s level. I am expecting a similar offer from army,” he said.
“Self before Service” …….this was the indecorouus caption carried by a leading Indian Weekly to capture the essence of the story involving the erstwhile COAS Gen VK Singh’s protestations against his age -miscarriage in official records. Why then is Olympic silver medallist Vijay Kumar’s quote of “offers” from the IAS lobby and sundry Sports circles being lionised? In his touchdown comments on TV, the sportsman demanded that “rules be made” to elevate him to (implicit) elevate him to a full-fledged (not Hony) Officer rank in the Army. Is the COAS’s contribution to the nation any inferior to that of a glamourised sportsman? Does the distinguished Olympian in question possess the necessary maturity to lead men into battle, the sine qua non of an Officer rank in the Infantry? Or is he trying to squeeze as much as he can while the going is good? Why is he, by this show of arrogance belittling his achievement?
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