Arjun Babuta's coach Deepali reveals she threw her phone after seeing him slip from 2nd to 4th position in 10m air rifle final at Paris Olympics 2024

Arjun Babuta came agonisingly close to winning a medal in the final of the Men's 10 Air Rifle event at the Paris Olympics 2024. Babuta's last shot saw him missing the top three spot in the elimination round. Arjun's coach and former athlete, Deepali Deshpande was frustrated to see her student miss the cut as she slipped from second position to fourth.
 

"Today was a tough day for me as well, and I threw my phone on seeing him slip from second to fourth in the finals. I know how hard I have worked with him during his junior days and helped him through the injury phase. He is one of those who can shoot 10.8s in the finals, and I am sure his era will start in 2025," Deepali, who has been training Babuta since he was 16-year-old, told PTI after the match. 
 

When Arjun’s legs went numb

Deepali recalled the time when Arjun suffered a back injury and fell twice at the range as his legs went numb.
 

"He passed through a very bad phase when he suffered a back injury that put paid to his hopes of making it to the Tokyo Olympics three years back. He fell twice at the range while shooting as his legs used to go numb," said the Asian Games 2002 silver medallist.
 

"The Covid pandemic gave him time to rest and recover, but every now and then he would call and request if I (Babuta) could start training, and every time I had to tell him, he needed to get fit first," added the 54-year-old.

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Bindra consoles Babuta

After the defeat, Babuta received words of encouragement to India's lone Olympic gold medallist shooter Abhinav Bindra who was in attendance during the final.
 

"I spoke to him yesterday as well as today. He had come to the Games village and shared his views. He told me to stay in the present. We always try to be in the present, but when a senior like Bindra says that, it has a different impact," said the 25-year-old.

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Babuta revealed that Bindra told him he can shed tears today but has to move on from the setback.
 

"He told me, 'I was also fourth (in 2016 Rio) and I can understand your feelings'.
 

"He told me, 'I can definitely cry today but I will have to move on'. He has high hopes from me," the young shooter added.
 

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