Ace India shooter Sarabjot Singh rejects government job after Paris Games bronze, here’s why

Ace Indian shooter and Paris Olympics bronze medallist Sarabjot Singh has rejected the government job offered to him as a token of appreciation. Upon landing in India, Sarabjot, who made the country proud with his third-place finish in the 10m air pistol mixed team event (alongside Manu Bhaker), expressed gratitude over the job offered but rejected it owing to personal plans.

Sarabjot Singh came agonisingly close to reaching the finals in the individual events but fell shy by a whisker. The 22-year-old belonging to a city called Ambala in Haryana revealed why he doesn’t wish to take up the job of Deputy Director in the Sports Department.

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"The job is good, but I will not take it right now. I want to focus on my shooting first," Sarabjot said. "My family has also been asking me to get a decent job, but I want to pursue shooting. I don’t want to go against the decisions that I have made, so I cannot take a job right now.”

The Indian shooter sounded determined to continue bettering his game, aiming to graduate from bronze to gold medal at the next Olympic Games in Los Angeles. 

“I am yet to achieve my main goal. Hopefully, I will complete my main goal in 2028. I used to write in my personal diary that I will give my personal best in Paris. 

“However, I am yet to give my personal best. I want to shoot for gold in 2028," Sarabjot said during an exclusive chat with India Today following his bronze medal performance.

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India's medal tally in Paris

The Indian shooters took home three of the six medals won at the Paris Games. While Sarabjot and Swapnil Kusale won a bronze each in their respective events, female shooter Manu Bhaker shone with her record two bronze medal wins in a single edition, becoming the first Indian athlete - male or female to unlock this feat. 

Besides, the Indian men’s hockey team won their second straight Olympic bronze in Paris by beating Spain 2-1. 

Elsewhere, the defending gold medal winner in javelin throw, Neeraj Chopra, finished second in the finals this time as Pakistan’s Arshad Nadeem won his maiden gold with an Olympic Record (OR) throw of 92.97m.

India’s final medal came on the penultimate day when 21-year-old Aman Sehrawat won his maiden bronze in the men’s 57kg wrestling. 

(With inputs from agencies)