Orphaned at the age of eight, Vijay, now 21, is a second-year student in a Chandigarh college. That what sets him apart from others in his age group, however, is that fighting against all odds Vijay has managed to clinch the title of being the current Chandigarh State Champion in Olympic Weightlifting in the 62 kg category.
Starting his life in a small village near Uttarkashi, Vijay came to Sri Ram Ashram Haridwar — home to parentless and orphaned children — after the death of his parents in an earthquake.
“While growing up, he always displayed exceptional skills in sports and had his eyes on a career in cricket. He loves sports and has excelled in it despite limited resources at his disposal,” said a member of the Sri Ram Ashram Haridwar.
“While in Class XII, I switched sports from cricket to Olympic Weightlifting. I was the first from India to qualify for the Reebok CrossFit Games Asia regional competition. This programme is a three-part competition eventually crowning ‘The Fittest on Earth'. The first part, called the CrossFit Open, was an online competition over a five-week period. Over 68,000 people worldwide participated in 17 different regions. The top 60 in each region qualified for phase two of the games,” says Vijay.
He was placed in the top 60 of Asia and travelled to Seoul for the Asia regional competition. “He secured the 16 position in Asia. By qualifying, Vijay has proved that he is the top CrossFitter in India. Also, by CrossFit standards, he is the ‘Fittest Man in India',” said a release issued by the Ashram.
“Life hasn't been easy but I don't have the time to think about what has been taken away from me. I thank God for the many opportunities that He has given me. I was a bit disappointed by the fact that I could not make a career in cricket but I am happy that I am associated with sports now and would like to work in this sector in the future,” says Vijay.
The sportsman now trains children in the Ashram in various sports. “I want them to experience the joy of being able to play a sport well and above all stay fit. The love for sports is something I would like to impart to them,” he says.
