Vijay Kumar: India's Silver Fox

Vijay Kumar became the second Indian to win an individual Olympic Silver medal in a hundred years and the fourth individual silver overall. (AFP Photos)

Vijay Kumar was not expected to bring a medal and maybe this helped him to focus more on his game rather than be surrounded by the hype.

Vijay Kumar started with a bang, hitting the target all five times and kept himself in the hunt for a medal by consistently finding the target. After a perfect five out of five at the start, Kumar, a double gold medallist in the 2010 Commonwealth Games, found the target four times in the second and third series, but missed it twice in the fourth.

He came back strongly by finding the target four times in the next three rounds and assured himself of a silver. In the last round after Pupo shot four to clinch the gold, Kumar seemed to relax a bit and missed three targets.

A regular in the World's top 10, he has been ever consistent and thus reaping the benefits. The recognition at the World stage started in the 2006 Commonwealth Games after winning both the pairs and the individual 25 metre rapid fire pistol competition. The following year, he finished second at the Asian Championship in the 25 metre center-fire pistol.

The friends with whom Vijay practised in Pune also celebrated his success with a lot of enthusiasm. (Photo Pawan Kumar)

Vijay's success is an inspiration to many aspiring shooters and for now atleast he is the toast an entire nation. (Photo Pawan Kumar)