Mohali. Indian shooter Arjun Babuta, who finished fourth in the men’s 10m air rifle final at the Paris Olympics-2024, has revealed the lack of support from the Punjab government. Babuta 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… It is very disappointing and I hope they will look into it because job security is very important.’
Arjun Babuta said that I hope they will accept my efforts. I should be given a certain rank according to my achievements in sports. I had demanded the same from the previous Congress government of Punjab. Governments are changing, but the demand is the same. Hope is slowly fading away. Chief Ministers of various states encouraged and met the shooters of their respective states participating in the Olympics. But the CM of Punjab and the Sports Minister of Punjab did nothing for the shooters of Punjab. They did not even welcome them.
Arjun Babuta said that ‘We were stopped at the airport. If anyone is responsible for the decline of sports in Punjab, then the ministers of Punjab have a big role in it.’
FIRST PUBLISHED : August 3, 2024, 10:37 IST
