Vikas Thakur is an Indian weightlifter and junior warrant officer at the Indian Airforce. He is three times Commonwealth Games medal winner. He won a silver medal in Commonwealth Games at Glasgow, Scotland (2014), a bronze in Commonwealth Games (2018), and a silver medal in Commonwealth Games Birmingham, England (2022). Vikas is also known for being a nine-times national medalist including 8 gold and 1 silver.
Wiki/Biography
Vikas Thakur was born on Sunday, 14 November 1993 (age 28 years; as of 2021) in Patnaon Village, Hamirpur, Himachal Pradesh. He was brought up in Ludhiana. His zodiac sign is Scorpio. He did his schooling at N M Jain Model Senior Secondary School, Ludhiana, Punjab. He then attended News Network, Ludhiana, Punjab As his father was a volleyball player, so his father used to lift iron bars and dumbells to maintain his fitness. In childhood, Vikas used to observe his father while exercising, and at the age of 9, he started lifting iron rods along with his father. During an interview, while remembering those days, Vikas said,
I would finish my homework early and to ensure that I don’t get into bad company, my parents put me to sports. tried athletics, boxing and finally weightlifting at the Ludhiana Club under CWG 1990 medallist Parvesh Chander Sharma.”
His father observed that Vikas was interested in weightlifting, he then asked Vikas to join the Ludhiana Weightlifting Center, Punjab for professional training.
A childhood picture of Vikas Thakur in a weightlifting competition
Physical Appearance
Height: 5′ 10″
Weight: 84 kg
Hair Colour: Black
Eye Colour: Black
Family
Vikas belongs to a Rajput family.
Parents & Siblings
His father, Brijlal Thakur, works 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
On his Instagram account, he has mentioned that he is taken.
Career
While studying in school, Vikas started his training in weightlifting at the Ludhiana Weightlifting Center, Punjab under the Indian weightlifter Parvesh Chander Sharma. He then continued his training at various weightlifting centres like Netaji Subhas National Institute of Sports: Patiala, Weight Lifting Gym in Rakh Bagh, Ludhiana, and Ludhiana Weightlifting Club, Guru Nanak Stadium, Punjab. He has competed in many weightlifting competitions at the national and international levels. Some of such tournaments are:
- 5 September 2011: Asian Junior Championships
- 10 October 2011: Commonwealth Junior Championships
- 4 June 2012: Commonwealth Junior Championships
- 3 May 2013: IWF Junior World Championships
- 1 July 2013: Asian Junior Championships
- 24 November 2013: Commonwealth Championships
- 23 July 2014: Commonwealth Games
- 19 September 2014: Asian Games
- 4 November 2014: IWF World Championships
- 6 September 2015: Asian Championships
- 11 October 2015: Commonwealth Championships
- 22 April 2016: Asian Championships
- 3 September 2017: Commonwealth Championships
- 27 November 2017: IWF World Championships
- 4 April 2018: XXI Commonwealth Games
- 20 August 2018: 18th Asian Games
- 7 January 2019: EGAT’s Cup International Weightlifting Championships
- 18 April 2019: Asian Championships
- 9 July 2019: Commonwealth Senior Championships
- 7 December 2021: IWF World Championships
- 7 August 2022: Commonwealth Games
Vikas Thakur in one of his tournaments
He is trained under weightlifting coaches named B.S. Medhwan and Vijay Sharma.
Vikas Thakur with his coach Vijay Sharma
In 2018, Vikas was appointed by the Indian Airforce as a junior warrant officer.
Vikas Thakur at Indian Air Force Headquarters, New Delhi
Medals
Gold
- 2015: Commonwealth Championships, Pune in 85 kg category
Silver
- 2013: Commonwealth Championships, Penang in 85 kg category
- 2014: Commonwealth Games, Glasgow in 85 kg category
Vikas Thakur with his silver medal at the Commonwealth Games 2014
- 2019: Commonwealth Championships, Samoa in 96 kg category
- 2022: Commonwealth Games, Birmingham in 96 kg category
Vikas Thakur with his medal at the Commonwealth Games 2022
Bronze
- 2017: Commonwealth Championships, Gold Coast in 94 kg category
- 2018: Commonwealth Games, Gold Coast in 94 kg category
Vikas Thakur with his bronze medal at the Commonwealth Games 2018
- 2021: Commonwealth Championships, Tashkent in 96 kg category
Award(s)
- 2010: Best Weightlifter in India in the U19 Category
- 2013: Best Sports Person in Air Force (2012-13)
Facts/Trivia
- In an interview, Vikas talked about the facilities provided to the Indian athletes at various training centres. He said,
We wanted more facilities for Indian athletes to match those offered to foreign athletes. Indian coaches are talented and they can produce many more champions, but we lag behind due to poor facilities. There is a need for more sports training equipment and other facilities to win medals at international competitions.”
- Vikas has got a tattoo of his parents’ picture inked on his right chest.
Vikas Thakur’s tattoo
- He has been felicitated for his achievements in weightlifting at many state and national events.
Vikas Thakur on being felicitated by Prem Kumar Dhumal
- In 2018, a few Indian athletes including Vikas were tested for doping, and his reports came negative for dope tests. During an interview, the then general team manager Namdev Shirgaonker talked about Vikas’s dope test. He said,
The officials of the medical commission took three athletes, one more athlete, Vikas Thakur was called. We took them to the medical commission. Thakur’s bag was searched. He underwent a dope test. He answered all the medical commission questions, nothing was found in the bag and his dope test was clear. He was on his way home but unfortunately we were told that he should be brought to the medical commission. After that he was cleared and he went. Thakur does not have any doping history.”
- In an interview, when reporters asked Vikas about the facilities he had received from the Indian government, he said,
The government allots funds for players, however it does not reach them. It should identify the source of corruption. The government does not ask, and players do not raise their voice against it. Even if they raise their voice, nobody listens to them. I belong to a middle-class family, and my family supported me in all ways to make me reach this level. However, not all are fortunate 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, however I have not received it until now. Though cash prizes or rewards are not more important than the pride of the nation, however they do help in motivating sportspersons and encouraging them to work harder. Now, I have no expectations from the state government for any welcome, prize, or honour. I start my practice from tomorrow, and will focus on the upcoming Asian Games and World Championships.”
- Vikas Thakur occasionally consumes alcohol.
Vikas Thakur in a restaurant
