No more his old self, Vijay Kumar’s Rio dreams cut short in finals
Vijay Kumar in 25 meter pistol rapid fire during Asia Olympic Qualifying Competition for Shooting in New Delhi on Thursday. EXPRESS PHOTO BY PRAVEEN KHANNA 28 01 2016.
There is a small titanium disc lodged on the side of Vijay Kumar’s neck. It needed to be put in there on October 1, 2014, because some heavy duty repetitive training and an impossibly contorted neck-locking-into-shoulder stance of the 2012 Olympic silver medallist, had given him a slip disc which compressed the nerves on his right hand. It left him — often — feeling lack of sensation and numbing pain (the sorts you get when the tingling of a frozen foot stiffens). The armyman who won a medal in pistol’s most dynamic event, at one time, couldn’t summon the power to lift a gun and pull the trigger as the action pinched his nerve.
On Thursday, he let slip an Olympic quota for Rio. Shooting a very poor finals, he would get eliminated scoring 1 (out of 5) in his fifth round (total 14), as two aggressive Japanese would mop up the rapid fire quotas available, ending his 2016 Games dream. The 576 he shot to get into the finals leading the standings had given hope, but all finals started at 0.
The 30-year-old would watch two surgeries, several days of rehab, a complete overhaul of shooting technique where the shoulder didn’t jut out painfully and coach Pavel Smirnov’s desperate prayers come to nought as he missed winning the quota for the August sojourn.
One round of 4, three of 3s and the imploding exit where he struck just 1 – with no 5s in the all-important Finals – would send out the first of India’s six London medallists, and end a torrid return for this Olympic cycle. “I shot one bad round and landed at fifth place to go out. But I’ll still be there to try at 2020 Games,” he promised, his intent to continue despite this stumble, quite evident.
Coach Smirnov talks of moulding his neck-position since surgery — his shoulder doesn’t scrunch up now and is pushed behind for a more naturally fluid movement. His old awkward stance spawned some unwanted copies among youngsters, a trend that’ll mercifully fade away. But, despite what he says, the changes post injury and surgery, have made him a less aggressive shooter in the 4-second finals which rely on quick reflexes.
A natural at acing the 4-second challenge when he won silver at London — he was one of the finest Finals shooters, it might well take some more months before he can regain confidence in going all-out and reclaim that aggression, though only time will tell.
It is now expected that Gurpreet Singh’s quota in 10m air pistol will be traded for one in 25m rapid fire, which opens up Jitu Rai and Prakash Nanjappa to shoot in both 10m and 50m free. Omkar Singh will be in contention to pick one more quota on Friday in 50m.
