"I want to work on my shooting first" - Paris Olympics bronze medalist Sarabjot Singh rejects government job

Sarabjot Singh, who along with Manu Bhaker won India's second bronze medal at the ongoing Paris Olympics 2024, rejected a job offer made by the Haryana government. The job offer was for a Deputy Director role in Haryana's Sports Department.

The 22-year-old shooter was one of the youngest Indians to win a medal at the Olympic Games. Plying his trade in the 10-meter air pistol discipline, he also represented the team that won a gold medal at the Hangzhou Asian Games in 2023.

He said in an interaction with the media today:

"The job is good but I will not do it right now. I want to work on my shooting first. My family has also been asking me to get a decent job but I want to do shooting. I don't want to go against some decisions that I have made, so I cannot do a job right now."

Government jobs offer security to any Indian, whether an athlete or an individual unrelated to sports. But Sarabjot Singh has made a bold decision by sticking to his plans and developing his core profession, shooting.

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India's medals at the Paris Olympics 2024

Apart from Sarabjot Singh, shooters Manu Bhaker and Swapnil Kusale have also brought in bronze medals. Bhaker and Singh won bronze in the mixed team 10 meter air pistol event. The former also bagged an individual bronze in the women's 10-meter air pistol discipline. Swapnil Kusale won the bronze medal in the men's 50-meter 3P event.

The Indian hockey team also won a bronze, their second successive medal at the Olympic Games. Neeraj Chopra, who won a gold in the Tokyo Games, brought home a silver this time. The recent medal India won came in the men's 57 kg freestyle wrestling, courtesy of 21-year-old Aman Sehrawat.

India still has medal hopes from Reetika Hooda, who can compete for bronze by fighting in the repechage round if her opponent, Aiperi Medet Kyzy, qualifies for the final.

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