Shooter Arjun Babuta slams Punjab government for lack of support: 'Have not received any benefit'

Arjun Babuta, the Indian shooter who finished fourth in the Men’s 10m Air Rifle Final at the 2024 Paris Olympics, has lamented at the lack of support from the Punjab government despite of all the success and achievements he has had in his career.

Babuta returned to India from Paris and was accompanied by bronze medallist Sarabjot Singh and a few other Indian shooters. The 25 year-old said that he should be given a specific rank, as per his achievements.

“I have not received any benefit from the state government. In 2022, Punjab CM Bhagwant Mann and then Sports Minister of Punjab Gurmeet Singh Meet Hayer promised to offer me a government job. I have also written a letter in this regard, but in reply, I was told to wait. It is very disappointing, and I hope they will look into it, as job security is very important. I hope they will acknowledge my efforts. I should be given a certain rank according to my achievements in sports. I demanded the same from the previous Congress government in Punjab," Babuta told news agency ANI.

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“Governments are changing, but the demand remains the same… The hope is slowly fading away…The Chief Ministers of different states cheered and met the shooters from their respective states who participated in the Olympics. But nothing was done by the Punjab CM and Punjab Sports Minister for the shooters from Punjab. They didn’t even welcome us at the airport. If they blame the decline of sports in Punjab, the ministers of Punjab have a big role in it,” added the Fazilka-born shooter.

Also read | Who is Arjun Babuta, the Indian shooter who finished fourth at Paris Olympics?  

Babuta began the final on Monday with a shot of 10.7. He maintained consistency with his shots, registering scores of 10.2 and 10.5, the latter of which propelled him to the fourth spot. A shot of 10.4 that followed further led him to the third spot, and finished the first series with a score of 10.6.

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In the second series of the final, Arjun began with a score of 10.7, and followed that up with a score of 10.5. In the second shot of the elimination series, Arjun shot 10.8, but that was not enough for him to secure a podium finish. He finished with a total score of 208.4 points .

India have won three medals at the Paris Olympics so far and all three have come in shooting. Manu Bhaker clinched bronze in the women’s 10m Air Pistol event, and later, she teamed up with Sarabjot Singh to win bronze in the 10m Air Pistol shooting event. Swapnil Kusale, too, clinched a bronze for India in the Men’s 50m Rifle 3 Positions event.