Vikas Thakur is an Indian weightlifter and junior warrant officer in the Indian Air Force. He is a three-time winner at the Commonwealth Games. He won a silver medal in the Commonwealth Games in Glasgow, Scotland (2014), a bronze in the Commonwealth Games (2018), and a silver medal in the Commonwealth Games in Birmingham, England (2022). Vikas is also famous as a nine-time national medal winner including 8 gold and 1 silver.
Wiki/Biography
Vikas Thakur was born on Sunday, 14 November 1993 (age 29 years; in 2022) in Village Patnaon, Hamirpur, Himachal Pradesh. He grew up in Ludhiana. His zodiac sign is Scorpio. He attended NM Jain Model Senior Secondary School, Ludhiana, Punjab. He later attended News Network, Ludhiana, Punjab As his father was a volleyball player, his father often lifted barbells and dumbbells to maintain his fitness. As a child, Vikas used to watch his father exercise. At the age of 9, Vikas started lifting barbells after watching his father who was a Volleyball player and often exercised to maintain his physical fitness. During an interview, reminiscing about his childhood, he said,
I would finish my homework early and to make sure I didn’t get into bad company, my parents put me in sports. tried athletics, boxing and finally weightlifting at the Ludhiana Club under 1990 CWG medalist Parvesh Chander Sharma.”
His father observed that Vikas was interested in weightlifting, he then asked Vikas to join the Weightlifting Center of Ludhiana, Punjab, for professional training.
Vikas Thakur’s childhood photos in weightlifting competitions
While studying at school, Vikas began his training in weightlifting at the Ludhiana Weightlifting Centre, Punjab, under Indian weightlifter Parvesh Chander Sharma. He then continued his training at various weightlifting centers such as Netaji Subhas National Institute of Sports: Patiala, Weightlifting Gym at Rakh Bagh, Ludhiana, and Ludhiana Weightlifting Club, Guru Nanak Stadium, Punjab.
Physical appearance
Height: 5′ 10″
Weight: 84 kg
Hair Color: Black
Eye Color: Black
Family
Vikas belongs to a Rajput family.
Parents & Siblings
His father, Brijlal Thakur, worked as a TS in the Indian Railways. His mother’s name is Asha Thakur. He has a sister named Abhilasha Thakur, who works as an advocate.
Vikas Thakur and his father
Vikas Thakur with his mother
Vikas Thakur and his sister
Relationships/Affairs
In 2022, he got engaged to his girlfriend Dr Preity Choudhary.
Vikas Thakur with his fiancee
Career
He has competed in many national and international weightlifting competitions. Some of the tournaments are:
- September 5, 2011: Asian Junior Championships
- 10 October 2011: Commonwealth Junior Championships
- 4 June 2012: Commonwealth Junior Championships
- May 3, 2013: IWF Junior World Championships
- 1 July 2013: Asian Junior Championships
- 24 November 2013: Commonwealth Games
- 23 July 2014: Commonwealth Games
- 19 September 2014: Asian Games
- November 4, 2014: IWF World Championships
- September 6, 2015: Asian Championship
- 11 October 2015: Commonwealth Games
- April 22, 2016: Asian Championship
- 3 September 2017: Commonwealth Games
- November 27, 2017: IWF World Championships
- 4 April 2018: XXI Commonwealth Games
- 20 August 2018: 18th Asian Games
- 7 January 2019: EGAT Cup International Weightlifting Championships
- 18 April 2019: Asian Championship
- 9 July 2019: Commonwealth Senior Championships
- December 7, 2021: IWF World Championships
- 7 August 2022: Commonwealth Games
Vikas Thakur in one of his tournaments
He trained under weightlifting coaches named BS Medhwan and Vijay Sharma.
Vikas Thakur with his coach Vijay Sharma
In 2018, Vikas was commissioned by the Indian Air Force as a junior warrant officer.
Vikas Thakur at Indian Air Force Headquarters, New Delhi
medal
gold
- 2015: Commonwealth Championship, Pune, in 85 kg category
silver
- 2013: Commonwealth Championship, Penang, in the 85 kg category
- 2014: Commonwealth Games, Glasgow, in the 85 kg category
Vikas Thakur with a silver medal at the 2014 Commonwealth Games
- 2019: Commonwealth Championships, Samoa, in the 96 kg category
- 2022: Commonwealth Games, Birmingham, in the 96 kg category
Vikas Thakur with his medal at the 2022 Commonwealth Games
Bronze
- 2017: Commonwealth Championships, Gold Coast, in the 94 kg category
- 2018: Commonwealth Games, Gold Coast, in the 94 kg category
Vikas Thakur with a bronze medal at the 2018 Commonwealth Games
- 2021: Commonwealth Championships, Tashkent, in the 96 kg category
Award
- 2010: Best Weightlifter in India in U19 Category
- 2013: Sportsman of the Year in the Air Force (2012-13)
- 2022: Arjuna Award
Vikas Thakur received the Arjuna Award from President Droupadi Murmu for the year 2022 at the Rashtrapati Bhavan
Facts/Trivia
- In an interview, Vikas spoke about the facilities provided to Indian athletes at various training centres. He said,
We want more facilities for Indian athletes to match those offered to foreign athletes. Indian coaches are talented and they can produce more champions, but we are lagging behind because of poor facilities. There is a need for more sports training equipment and other facilities to win medals at international competitions.”
- Vikas has got a picture of his parents inked on his right chest.
Vikas Thakur Tattoo
- He has been recognized for his achievements in weightlifting at many state and national level events.
Vikas Thakur for being greeted by Prem Kumar Dhumal
- In 2018, several Indian athletes including Vikas were tested for doping, and his reports were negative for drug tests. During an interview, the then general manager of the team Namdev Shirgaonkar spoke about Vikas’ drug test. He said,
The medical commission officials took three athletes, another athlete, Vikas Thakur was called. We took them to the medical commission. Thakur’s bag was searched. He underwent a drug test. He answered all the medical commission’s questions, nothing was found in the bag and his drug test was clear. He was on his way home but unfortunately we were told that he should be taken to the medical commission. After that he was cleaned and he left. Thakur has no history of doping.”
- In an interview, when reporters asked Vikas about the facilities received from the Indian government, he said,
The government allocated funds for the players, but it did not reach them. It should identify the source of corruption. The government did not ask, and the players did not raise their voices against it. Although they raised their voices, no one heard them. I belong to a middle class family, and my family supported me in every way to make me reach this level. However, not all are lucky enough to have the motivational and financial support of their families, which is why talent remains buried in Punjab.”
He continued,
My nomination for the Maharaja Ranjit Singh Award was filed in 2015, but I have not received it till now. Although cash prizes or rewards are not more important than national pride, they help in motivating sportspersons and encourage them to work harder. Now, I don’t expect any welcome, gifts or respect from the state government. I start my training from tomorrow, and will focus on the upcoming Asian Games and World Championships.”
- Vikas Thakur sometimes consumes alcohol.
Vikas Thakur in a restaurant
Categories: Biography
Source: SCHOOL TRANG DAI
