Shooter Vijay Kumar moves to number 2 spot, wants to be at top

London Olympics silver medallist Vijay Kumar today equalled his best ranking when he scaled to the number 2 spot in the world but even before one could blink, the men's 25-metre rapid fire pistol ace expressed a desire to claim the numero uno spot at the earliest.

"I want to reach the top as soon as possible, and that will be possible if I do well in the World Cups next year, and I can say that I will try my level best," Vijay told PTI. The 25-metre rapid fire pistol shooter has been hovering in the top 10 for the past couple of years, since attaining the number two rank for the first time in 2009.

"I was number three in October-November. Now, I am number two, but my target is to bag the number one position by winning medals at the World Cups next year," the ever-modest shooter added from his training base in Mohw after the International Shooting Sport Federation (ISSF) issued the list today.

Vijay has 2,665 points compared to top-ranked Pupo Leuris's 3,364. The Cuban won the gold medal in the London Games. "I am already preparing for the World Cups, because they are my immediate goals, and it is going good."

London Games bronze medallist Gagan Narang too moved a place to become number five in the men's 10-metre air rifle category. Men's 50-metre rifle prone shooter Joydeep Karmakar, who finished fourth in London, retained the number six position in his category, while double trap shooter Ronjan Sodhi managed to keep his number seventh spot.