Others

Indian shooter Arjun Babuta has expressed disappointment over the lack of support he has received from the Punjab government despite his remarkable achievements in the sport. Babuta, who narrowly missed out on an Olympic medal in the men's 10m Air Rifle event at the recently concluded Paris Olympics, has been vocal about his expectations for job security and recognition from the state government.In an interview with ANI, Babuta revealed that he has not received any benefits from the Punjab government despite his success. He recalled a promise made by Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann and then Sports Minister Gurmeet Singh Meet Hayer in 2022 to offer him a government job. However, Babuta said he has yet to receive a concrete response to his request."I have 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," Babuta said.Babuta also criticized the Punjab government for its alleged neglect of sports in the state. He pointed out that while Chief Ministers of other states welcomed and celebrated shooters from their respective states who participated in the Olympics, the Punjab government failed to do so."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 state Sports Minister for the shooters from the state. They didn't even welcome us at the airport," Babuta added.Babuta's comments highlight the challenges faced by athletes in India, particularly those from smaller states. Despite their achievements on the international stage, many athletes struggle to receive adequate support and recognition from their state governments.Despite the setbacks, Babuta remains determined to continue his shooting career. He has set his sights on the LA 28 Olympics and the Shooting World Cup. With his talent and dedication, Babuta has the potential to achieve even greater success in the future.

India's Arjun Babuta narrowly missed out on a podium finish in the 10m Air Rifle final at the Paris 2024 Olympic Games, finishing a heartbreaking fourth in Chateauroux.Babuta started the competition strongly, vaulting to the top of the leaderboard with a 10.7 in the first stage. However, he dropped back to fourth after his second shot, a 10.2. He remained in the mix throughout the competition, often holding second or third place.In the final stages of the Elimination round, Babuta faltered, allowing Croatia's Miran Marcic and Sweden's Victor Lindgren to overtake him. The eventual winner was China's Shen Lihao, who was in unstoppable form, finishing with an Olympic record score of 252.2.Babuta's performance was a testament to his skill and determination. He started the second stage with a 10.7, vaulting him into third place, and then a 10.5 on his second shot took him into second rank. He maintained his consistency with a 10.4 on his third shot and a 10.6 on his fourth, keeping a small lead over Marcic.However, Babuta dropped to third with his final shot of Stage 2, a 10.4, allowing Marcic to jump into second place again with a 10.8. Babuta's total at the end of Stage 2 was 105.0, trailing Sheng's 105.8.In the final shots, Babuta began well with a 10.6, while Marcic faltered with a 10.1, allowing the Indian to climb back into second. Babuta closed the gap to Sheng with a 10.8 on his second shot, trailing by just 0.1.Sheng responded with a 10.8, while Babuta shot a 9.9, opening up a gap between the two. Sheng continued to dominate, shooting a 10.9 on his second shot, while Babuta recovered with a 10.6.Lindgren jumped into second with a 10.8, while Babuta dropped to third with a 10.2. Sheng maintained his lead with a 10.9, while Babuta climbed back into second with a 10.7.In the final shots, Babuta shot a 10.5, but Marcic caught up with him, both on 178.3. Marcic responded with a 10.7, while Babuta hit a 10.1. Babuta needed big shots, but he started with a 10.5, remaining in fourth but closing the gap on Marcic, who shot 10.1. However, Marcic shot a 10.7 with his second shot, while Babuta only managed a 9.5 to finish fourth in the competition.