It was indeed the moment of joy as well as surprise when unheralded army man Vijay Kumar shot for silver medal for India at the Olympics 2012, clinching second place in the 25m rapid-fire event to lift the nation's spirits after a subdued showing until Friday.

The 26-year-old Commonwealth Games champion, who comes from Himachal Pradesh and is an ex-army man’s son, held his nerves in the six-man final and was assured of the silver before shooting his final round.

Meanwhile, it was the second medal India is bestowed with after Gagan Narang’s bronze medal in 10m air rifle. It is only India's fourth shooting medal at the Olympics. Rajyavardhan Singh Rathore opened the account by clinching silver in double trap at the 2004 Athens Games before Abhinav Bindra became the country's first individual gold medalist by winning the 10m air rifle in Beijing four years ago.

Kumar, who finished with a tally of 30 out of 40 in the final, was humble in victory. "I had mentally prepared myself for this moment. Being in the army has made me mentally tough and I used that to my advantage. Whatever I had planned, I have achieved," he said.

You have really made the country proud Vijay and we hope many more accomplishments come your way in future!

Source: TNN