In a thrilling display of marksmanship, 28-year-old Swapnil Kusale has secured India’s third medal at the Paris Olympics. Kusale clinched the bronze medal in the 50m rifle 3 positions final on Thursday, adding to India’s growing tally in the shooting events.
Medal Standings
- Gold: Y.K. Liu
- Silver: Serhiy Kulish
- Bronze: Swapnil Kusale
Kusale’s impressive performance saw him accumulate a total of 451.4 points, narrowly missing out on the silver medal. The gold medalist, Y.K. Liu, amassed 463.6 points, while Ukrainian Serhiy Kulish secured the silver with 461.3 points.
India’s Shooting Success
This bronze medal marks India’s third medal in shooting at the current Olympic Games. Notably, all three medals in this discipline have been bronze:
- Manu Bhaker: Women’s 10m air pistol
- Manu Bhaker and Sarabjot Singh: Mixed team event
- Swapnil Kusale: 50m rifle 3 positions
Who is Swapnil Kusale?
Early Life and Background
Born in 1995, Swapnil Kusale hails from a family with an agricultural background. His journey in sports began when his father enrolled him in the Maharashtra government’s Krida Prabhodini program, which focuses on sports development.
Career and Profession
Kusale is currently employed as a Travelling Ticket Examiner (TTE) with the Pune Railway Division, balancing his professional duties with his shooting career.
Shooting Career Highlights
Early Achievements
- 2015 Asian Shooting Championships (Kuwait):
Gold medal in 50m rifle prone 3 (junior category)
National Championships
- 59th National Shooting Championship (Tughlakabad):
- Gold medal in 50m rifle prone event
- Outperformed renowned shooters Gagan Narang and Chain Singh
- 61st National Championship (Thiruvananthapuram):
- Gold medal in 50m rifle 3 position
International Successes
- Asian Championship, Korea (2023):
- Silver medal in 10m air rifle individual event
- Secured Olympics 2024 quota place for India
- World Championship, Cairo (2022):
- Gold medal in 10m Air Rifle team event
- ISSF World Cup, Changwon (2022):
- Two Gold medals:
- Individual event
- Men’s team event
- World University Games, Chengdu (2021):
- Gold medal in 10m Air Rifle individual event
The Road to Olympic Glory
Swapnil Kusale’s journey from a young athlete in the Krida Prabhodini program to an Olympic medalist is a testament to his dedication and skill. After a year of intense physical training, Kusale chose shooting as his sport, a decision that has led him to the Olympic podium.
His consistent performances in national and international competitions, including multiple gold medals at various championships, have prepared him for the pressures of Olympic competition. Kusale’s bronze medal at the Paris Olympics not only adds to India’s medal tally but also cements his place among the country’s elite shooters.
As India celebrates this latest Olympic success, Swapnil Kusale’s achievement serves as an inspiration to aspiring shooters across the nation, highlighting the potential for success through hard work, determination, and precision in the sport of shooting.
