Kiran Baliyan, Shot Putter and Asian Games Medallist, Appeals to Yogi Adityanath to Make Good on Job Promise – News18

Then 24-year-old Kiran Baliyan had hurled the shot put to a distance of 17.36m in her third attempt to clinch the Bronze at the Hangzhou Asian Games.

Kiran Baliyan says she had quit her Sub-Inspector job in Rajasthan six months ago and has since been waiting to get the UP government job promised to her following her Bronze win at the Asian Games last year

Indian shot-putter Kiran Baliyan has approached the Yogi Adityanath government in Uttar Pradesh for assistance in securing a government job which was promised to her when she became the first Indian woman last year to bag an Asian Games medal in shot put in 72 years. Baliyan, who hails from Meerut district, had won the bronze medal in the Hangzhou Asian Games held in September 2023.

The athlete made the appeal in a video on social media, stating that she requests the UP CM “with folded hands” to help her get the promised job since she is “facing some hardships in life”.

The then 24-year-old Baliyan had hurled the iron ball to a distance of 17.36m in her third attempt for her best of the day, finishing behind Chinese duo and Olympic champions Lijiao Gong and Jiayuan Song.

“I have been a fiery shot-putter. And it was the only reason why I bagged Bronze, which was the country’s first medal in women shot put in 72 years. But truly speaking, I never felt so weak and helpless in life,” said Baliyan while speaking to News18.

She said the UP government had organized a grand welcome for the athletes from the state who participated in the Asian Games. Besides, CM Yogi Adityanath also felicitated the players with the prestigious Rani Lakshmi Bai Award and promised them government jobs.

“However, five months after our CM’s announcement, I left the job of Sub-Inspector, which the Rajasthan Government had offered me in 2022 under sports quota, and applied for the post of Nayab Tehsildar almost six months back. But, despite several reminders and follow-ups, I haven’t received any communication from the UP government,” she said in the video.

The application for the Uttar Pradesh government job filed by Kiran Baliyan six months ago. (Special arrangement/News18)

Baliyan, who is the daughter of a head constable in UP police, said it has been almost a year now since she left her SI job and remains without a job now. She also registered her concerns on the UP government’s online complaint portal, but has received no resolution so far.

Releasing the appeal video on social media, Baliyan said: “My name is Kiran Baliyan. I am an international shot-put player who won Bronze for India during recent Asian Games held in China. I request our Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath ji with folded hands to help me in securing the promised job.”

Who is Kiran Baliyan?

Kiran Baliyan, originally from Purbalyan in Muzaffarnagar district, currently resides with her family in Ekta Nagar, Modipuram in Meerut. Her father, Satish Baliyan, is a head constable in Ghaziabad, and mother Bobby is a home-maker.

Baliyan’s athletic journey began with notable performances, including a 12.49m throw at the 2015 Indian Under-18 Athletics Championships in Ranchi. Over the years, she achieved several milestones, winning Gold at the 2020 National Games with a national record of 17.14m in shot put and securing a Bronze medal at the Asian Games with a throw of 17.36m.