Arjun Babuta, the 25-year-old Indian shooter, narrowly missed out on an Olympic medal in the men’s 10m air rifle final in Paris. Despite the disappointment, Babuta has emerged from the experience as a stronger and more confident shooter.
“The Olympics was a different beast altogether,” Babuta said. “It’s the biggest stage in the world, and it comes with a lot of distractions. But I was prepared for it, and I was able to stay focused.”
Babuta’s performance in Paris has given him a boost of confidence. “Now big scores appear small to me,” he said. “To finish fourth best in the world… I’m proud of it. It’s given me the courage to take risks and experiment more.”
Babuta is known for his analytical approach to shooting. He takes time to assess his performance before talking to others, so that he can avoid being influenced by their opinions. This approach helped him cope with the disappointment of finishing fourth in Paris.
“It was a hard moment, but I’m very proud of myself,” Babuta said. “I did everything I could.”
Babuta is now preparing for the ISSF World Cup Final in October, where he aims to shoot with a relaxed mind and enjoy the competition. He is also working on improving his fitness and mental health, which he believes will help him refine his shooting technique and achieve greater consistency.
“The target is definitely to refine my shooting, refine the process, which is going to help me in the lane,” Babuta said. “I also aim to take my scores higher and bring in consistency so that I’m well prepared for big competitions in the future.”
