MUMBAI: The
Maharashtra government today offered a government job to steeplechase athlete
Lalita Babar
, who became the first Indian athlete after P T Usha, to reach a track final at the Olympics.
Chief Minister
Devendra Fadnavis who felicitated Babar here said the athlete, a native of
Satara
district, has been offered a job in the state government.
Fadnavis and senior ministers wished her success for all her future endeavours.
27-year-old Babar did not succeed in winning a medal at the
Rio Olympics but said she has come back rich in experience and exposure that will stay with her for years.
"Now my sights are set on bagging a medal in the 2020 Tokyo Olympics," she said.
"I am happy that after P T Usha, another Indian athlete, that too a Maharashtrian, reached Olympic finals," the athlete said.
Meanwhile, tamasha (folk dance) artistes from Satara district, said they will give Babar Rs one lakh in recognition of her reaching the Olympics finals.
On Saturday, the
Haryana government had announced a reward of Rs 15 lakh to Babar.