Arjun Babuta of Jalalabad, Punjab.
Shooter Arjun Babuta, who finished fourth in the men’s 10m air rifle final event at the Paris Olympics 2024, has targeted the state government. He has alleged that despite winning several medals, he did not get any help from the Punjab government. Arjun Babuta
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Arjun has revealed that despite achieving all the success in his career, he has not received any benefits from the Punjab government. After returning to India from Paris with bronze medalist Sarabjot Singh and some other shooters, the 25-year-old Arjun said that he should be given a certain rank according to his achievements.
Just yesterday, CM Bhagwant Mann had talked to the players in Paris to encourage the hockey team.
The Chief Minister had promised in 2022
In an interview to ANI, Arjun said- I have not received any benefits from the state government. In 2022, Punjab CM Bhagwant Mann and the then Sports Minister of Punjab Gurmeet Singh Meet Hayer had promised to give me a government job. I have also written a letter in this regard, but in response I was asked to wait. This is very disappointing. I hope he (the Chief Minister) will look into this. Because, job security is very important.
Not only Bhagwant Mann, I had also made the same demand from the previous Congress government of Punjab. CM Bhagwant Mann had told that the policy was different then. Now changes have been made in it. I should be given a certain rank according to my achievements in sports.
Governments are changing, but the demand is the same. Hope is slowly fading away. Chief Ministers of various states met the shooters of their respective states participating in the Olympics and encouraged them. But the Chief Minister of Punjab and the Sports Minister of Punjab did nothing for the shooters of Punjab. He said, “They did not even welcome us at the airport. If the condition of sports is deteriorating in Punjab, then the ministers of Punjab have a big hand in it. Good players have either changed their state or the country.”
Arjun Babuta during Olympics 2024.
Effect of pressure on performance in finals
In the 10m air rifle final, Arjun Babuta succumbed to the pressure and finished fourth. He scored a total of 208.4 points. Arjun started the final with a score of 10.7 and then followed it up with a score of 10.2. His third shot of 10.5 put him in fourth place, while his fourth attempt of 10.4 put him in third. He finished the first series with a solid score of 10.6.
He started the second series with a score of 10.7. He then scored 10.5 and almost scored 10.8 in the second shot of the first elimination series. However, he could not maintain the form and missed the medal.