PM joins nation in congratulating Vijay Kumar on silver medal at Olympics

Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and Union Defence Minister AK Antony today joined Vijay Kumar's family members in congratulating the Indian shooter for winning a silver medal at the London Olympic Games.

"I join the nation in congratulating shooter Vijay Kumar for winning Olympic silver medal in the 25m Rapid Fire Pistol event," Singh said in his message.

Antony also congratulated Vijay for winning the silver medal in the 25m Rapid Fire Pistol event at the Royal Artillery Barracks in London.

In his congratulatory message the minister stated, "I congratulate Subedar Vijay Kumar for bringing laurels to the country. The defence forces are proud of him."

Army chief Bikram Singh and the deputy chief Lt Gen Ramesh Halgali also praised the shooter

"We are proud of him and this medal is a result of hard work by him and the military training," Halgali said.

BJP also congratulated Kumar for his success and achievement.

"We congratulate Vijay Kumar for winning a silver medal for the country. It's a moment of pride for the nation. We wish him best on behalf of the nation and our party," BJP chief spokesperson Ravi Shankar Prasad said here.

An ecstatic father of Kumar attributed his son's Olympic success to the years of hard work and discipline inculcated in him by the Indian Army.

"I don't have words to express my feelings. Full credit to Indian army which supported his training and the discipline that he inculcated is because of the defence background. He has made the country proud and also put Himachal Pradesh's name in the sporting history," Subedar Kumar told mediapersons.