Indian shooter Arjun Babuta has expressed his frustration with the Punjab Government, revealing that he has not received any support despite his remarkable achievements. Babuta, who narrowly missed out on an Olympic medal in the men’s 10m Air Rifle event at the Paris Olympics, finished fourth, just shy of the podium. Following his return to India, he shared his grievances alongside bronze medalist Sarabjot Singh and other shooters.
The 25-year-old shooter has highlighted the lack of follow-through on promises made by the Punjab government. In 2022, Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann and then Sports Minister Gurmeet Singh Meet Hayer had promised Babuta a government job, but Babuta claims that he has yet to see any tangible benefits.
Despite writing letters and waiting for a response, Babuta feels disheartened by the lack of progress and hopes the current administration will provide him with job security and recognition commensurate with his achievements.
“I have not received any benefit from the State Government. In 2022, I was promised a government job by Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann and the then Sports Minister Gurmeet Singh Meet Hayer. Despite my efforts to follow up, I was told to wait. It is disappointing, and I hope they will address this issue, as job security is crucial. I believe I should be given a rank that reflects my achievements in sports. I had the same demands from the previous Congress government,” mentioned Babuta.
Babuta also criticised the Punjab Government for its lack of engagement with athletes. He noted that while Chief Ministers of other states celebrated and met with their Olympic athletes, the Punjab CM and Sports Minister did not extend similar gestures to shooters from Punjab. He suggested that such neglect contributes significantly to the decline of sports in the state.
“Governments change, but the issues remain the same. My hope is slowly fading. The Chief Ministers of various states welcomed and celebrated their athletes, but the Punjab CM and state Sports Minister did nothing for us. They didn’t even welcome us at the airport. If there is a decline in sports in Punjab, the ministers have played a significant role in it,” he added.
Looking ahead, Babuta is now focused on the LA 2028 Olympics and the Shooting World Cup, aiming to achieve greater success in future competitions.
