In a heartwrenching moment at the Paris 2024 Olympics, Indian shooter Arjun Babuta narrowly missed a podium finish in the 10m Men’s Air Rifle, securing fourth place with 208.4 points at the Chateauroux shooting range.
However, amidst the disappointment, a silver lining emerged in the form of Abhinav Bindra, India’s first individual gold medalist.
Bindra extends support for Arjun Babuta
Before the final, Bindra visited Babuta in the Olympic village. The 2008 Beijing gold medalist shared invaluable insights on handling the immense pressure of a global event. His words resonated deeply with the young shooter.
Bindra emphasized the importance of staying in the present. When a senior like him imparts wisdom, it hits home. Babuta reflected, “The fact that he has a lot of hopes for me made me feel really good.”
Bindra, who also finished fourth in air rifle shooting at the Rio 2016 Olympics, empathized with Babuta’s feelings. He reminded Babuta that setbacks are part of the journey, urging him to move forward for a better future.
Abhinav Bindra knows about winning the Olympics gold, but he'd be the first to tell you he knows more about not winning at the Olympics too. He knows about finishing fourth. So there couldn't be a better message for Arjun Babuta than from the man himself 🙏🏼 pic.twitter.com/QgY7wQSOjU
— Vinayakk (@vinayakkm) July 29, 2024
After the final, Bindra penned a heartfelt message for Babuta: “Arjun, congratulations on your inspiring performance today. Your dedication shone through every shot. I couldn’t be more proud of your composure under pressure. This performance is just the beginning.”
Arjun Babuta’s resilience, coupled with Abhinav Bindra’s mentorship, exemplifies the spirit of Indian sports. As Babuta continues his journey, we eagerly await more greatness from this talented shooter.
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