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At 26, this man is a Subedar and he did not have to undertake any Promotion exams and got his promotion for his wins in sport.Olympic silver-medallist Vijay Kumar wants to quit Indian Army
NEW DELHi: London Olympic silver-medallist shooter Vijay Kumar on Monday said that he wants to leave Indian Army as he has not been given a single promotion in last six years despite good performances at the national and international levels.
Unheralded Vijay, who is a subedar with 16 Dogra Regiment, provided the silver lining for India in London Games last week, clinching the second place in the 25m rapid fire pistol event.
"Indian army helped me in shooting by giving me coaching facilities and providing me with pistol and ammunition but I need money for my daily needs," said Vijay.
"Since 2006 I won many national and international medals that includes 2010 Commonwealth Games' three gold and one silver medal. But I have not been recommended by my seniors. I have not given any promotion or honorary award or any other kind of facility," he added.
Six-time national champion, Vijay had won two silver at ISSF's World Cup. And though he missed out on a medal in rapid fire event at Guangzhou Asiad, he won two bronze in air pistol and center fire pistol. He also won a gold at Doha Asian Games.
"I have been continuously performing well in shooting, but I have not given any reward. I am still a subedar," complained Vijay.
Asked if he has written to his seniors about this, Vijay said, "Nothing is given in written. It is done automatically. If somebody is performing well, he is recommended by seniors."
Himachal Pradesh government has announced Rs 1 crore for Vijay but he is not satisfied with it as he is not been given any state awards so far.
"After 2010 CWG, Haryana, Punjab and other states gave promotion to their players but I have not received any award from my state where Parshuram and Himachal Gaurav award is given to those players who perform well at national and international level," he said.
The Indian Army, on its part, said it may consdider giving Vijay promotion.
The Army also said that it will felicitate the shooter with some cash award once he is back from London.
Olympic medallist Vijay Kumar wants to quit Indian Army - The Times of India
That he is a Subedar without doing anything that is Army like, excepting shooting under army's aegis at Mhow is, in itself is worth mention in Guinness Book of Records.
Dhan Singh Thapa and Hoshiyar Singh are living PVC, the highest gallantry awards, because they put their lives at stake so that we could sleep in the security of the blanket they provided us.
Did they want to have instant promotion flouting rules, which this Vijay has got for lesser achievements? Did they demand that now that they have put their lives at stake for the Nation, they should become instant Presidents of the Nation?
I agree recognition MUST be given.
But not illogical one and that too by threatening blackmail.
Let him quit.
Let him find a sponsor in the commercial world and let that company get him the best of coaches and facilities.
Good luck to him.
I am sure the Army will not miss a Lotus Eater, who comes into prominence because of the Army and then ridicules it!
He has made a hole in the very plate that he has eaten so far.
I find it disgraceful, but our populist Army under growing politicization will bend and acquiesce.
It will be another example of the rot that has set into the army trying to be egalitarian!
In the Army that I served, it was about serving the Nation and not about awards and recognition.
Demands for award and recognition is that of a mercenary!
We were not mercenaries.
We were there in the army since it was a calling and not merely a profession or an escape from poverty and I speak for millions of officers and men!
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