NEW DELHI: Swapnil Kusale etched his name in the annals of Indian sports history on Thursday, becoming the first Indian shooter to win an Olympic medal in the 50m Rifle 3 Positions event. Kusale secured the bronze medal with a total score of 451.4 in the men's final.
This achievement marks India's third medal at the Paris Olympics, all in shooting. Earlier, Manu Bhaker won a bronze in the women's 10m Air Pistol event and another bronze in the mixed team event with Sarajot Singh.
Who is Swapnil Kusale?
Swapnil Kusale, born on August 6, 1995, in Pune, made his Olympic debut at Paris 2024. He earned his quota place by finishing fourth in the 50m Rifle 3 Positions event at the 2022 World Championship in Cairo, Egypt.
At the Hangzhou 2022 Asian Games held in 2023, Kusale achieved gold in the men's 50m Rifle 3 Positions team event. Alongside Aishwary Pratap Singh Tomar and Akhil Sheoran, the Indian team set a world record with 1769 points, clinching the title.
In addition, Kusale was a three-time medallist at the 2023 World Cup in Baku, Azerbaijan, earning one gold and two silver medals.
Performance in Paris:- Final: Swapnil recorded a score of 451.4, securing 3rd place in the final round.
- Qualification Round: Swapnil qualified for the final round after finishing 7th with a total score of 590.
Past Achievements:- World Championship, Cairo (2022): Finished 4th, securing an Olympics 2024 quota place for India.
- Asian Games 2022: Gold in the team event.
- World Cup, Baku (2023): Gold medal in the mixed team event and two silver medals in individual and team events.
- World Championship, Cairo (2022): Bronze medal in the team event.
- World Cup, New Delhi (2021): Gold medal in the team event.
Kusale's historic achievement not only brings pride to India but also highlights the country's growing prowess in the sport of shooting. His journey from securing a quota place in Cairo to standing on the Olympic podium in Paris is a testament to his hard work, dedication, and remarkable skill.
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