On August 1, 2024, Swapnil Kusale brought glory to India by clinching the bronze medal in the 50m Rifle 3 Positions Men's Final at the Paris Olympics. This achievement marks India’s third medal in shooting at these Games.
Swapnil Kusale finished third in the event with a total score of 451.4. Although he had a challenging moment where he hit a 10.0, Kusale secured the bronze.
Kusale’s competition included top shooters from around the world. Serhiy Kulish of Ukraine, who was also in the fray, managed to win the silver medal.
Who is Swapnil Kusale?
Swapnil Kusale is a Travelling Ticket Examiner (TTE) with the Pune Railway Division. Born on August 6, 1995, in Pune, Maharashtra, he comes from a family with an agricultural background. His father enrolled him in Maharashtra’s government sports program, Krida Prabodhini, where he chose shooting after a year of physical training.
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In 2015, Kusale won a gold medal in the 50m rifle prone 3 in the junior category at the Asian Shooting Championships in Kuwait. He also won the 59th National Shooting Championship in Tughlakabad and the 61st National Championship in Thiruvananthapuram in the 50m rifle 3 position event.
Has the Government funded Swapnil Kusale?
Kusale trains at the Balewadi Stadium in Pune and has been supported by the Sports Ministry in his journey to the Olympics. He is a Target Olympic Podium Scheme (TOPS) athlete, receiving financial assistance and support for ammunition and a personal coach. He receives Rs 17.58 lakh from TOPS and Rs 1,42,69,647 under the Annual Calendar for Training and Competition (ACTC) scheme.
More: India medals Olympics 2024: Full list of medal-winners and standings for India at Paris
What are Swapnil Kusale’s major achievements?
Asian Championship, Korea (2023): Silver medal in the 10m air rifle individual event, securing a quota place for the 2024 Olympics.
World Championship, Cairo (2022): Gold medal in the 10m air rifle team event.
ISSF World Cup, Changwon (2022): Two gold medals in the individual and men’s team events.
World University Games, Chengdu (2021): Gold medal in the 10m air rifle individual event.
The journey to the medal at Paris Olympics 2024
In the final, Kusale was initially placed sixth at the end of the kneeling stage with a score of 153.3. By the end of the prone stage, he moved up to fifth with a total of 310.1, just 0.6 points behind the third-placed Kulish.
In the standing stage, Kusale's score of 51.1 in the first five shots elevated him to fourth place, putting him just 0.4 points away from the bronze. He managed to secure the third spot, bringing home the bronze medal for India.
What did Swapnil Kusale say after winning the bronze?
Swapnil felt proud that he won the bronze for India.
"It was tense but I am glad I could get a bronze for India. I just did what I have been doing all these years. I had some ‘keywords’ in my mind. Just focused on my breathing. I am excited. Maybe it is yet to sink in but remaining calm has been a way of life for some time now."
This bronze medal is not just a personal achievement for Kusale but also a milestone for India. It represents the country's third medal in shooting at the Paris Olympics.
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