New Delhi, Aug 8: Ace shooter Vijay Kumar received a rousing reception by the Indian Army on his arrival at the Indira Gandhi International Airport at New Delhi.

Army personnel turned up to welcome the silver medallist, Vijay Kumar on Wednesday, as he is the lone white metal winner so far for India in the 30th edition of Olympic Games.

It was indeed a rousing welcome as the entire airport resonated with sounds of drums, traditional nagara and the national anthem after the shooter's flight landed on Wednesday morning.

"It is a really fantastic reception and I am really touched by it. This is the first time I am getting such a welcome," said Kumar as he was driven to the Army headquarters on an open gypsy.

Though the shooter has won only one medal at London, his focus is already on the 2016 Olympics at Brazil.

"I will take a brief break now and then again focus on the 2016 Olympics." Beside the Army personnel from his 16 Dogra Regiment and Kumar's family that comprised his father, mother and grandmother, also present with garlands were about 35-40 officials from the National Rifle Association of India (NRAI).

"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," Kumar said.

The moment people got a glimpse of the ace shooter Vijay Kumar, chants of 'Vijay Kumar zindabad' and 'Indian Army zindabad' were heard all across.

Talking about his son's remarkable achievement, Vijay Kumar's father Banku Ram, a retired Subedar in the Army said, "A lot of hard work has gone into it. He has won a medal because he has spent a lot of time training away from home. He wouldn't have won had he spent those time at home."

Meanwhile, NRAI advisor Baljeet Sethi said Kumar will get all privileges that an Olympic medallist deserves.

"We will definitely give him all the privileges, whatever is possible. We will take him to the Prime Minister and a felicitation has been planned, it will happen once our president (Raninder Singh) is back from London," Sethi said.

Sethi also felt that Vijay Kumar could have won a gold medal for India as he had the potential to aim for it, but was happy with the shooter's performance.

"He is a quiet type of a person. He is not like the rest, he is always focused on shooting. I had always expected him to win and he could have, in fact, won a gold also," Sethi added.

Similarly, national coach Sunny Thomas also praised the shooter and said last time the shooting team had won only one medal while they doubled it this time around.

"Realistically, I had expected 4-5 medals. But then it's okay, last time we won one, and two this time. The colour may not be gold but the numbers are more this time," Thomas said.

OneIndia News