The father of Swapnil Kusale, the bronze medalist in the 50m rifle 3 positions event at the Paris Olympics, has expressed his disappointment with the Maharashtra government’s prize money for his son’s achievement. Suresh Kusale believes that the Rs 2 crore awarded to Swapnil is inadequate, especially when compared to the significantly higher amounts offered by the Haryana government for its Olympic medalists.
Suresh Kusale argued that Swapnil, who hails from Kolhapur, deserves a prize of Rs 5 crore, a flat near the Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Sports Complex in Balewadi, Pune, and for the shooting arena at the complex to be named after him. He highlighted that Haryana, a state smaller than Maharashtra, provides Rs 6 crore for a gold medal, Rs 4 crore for a silver medal, and Rs 2.5 crore for a bronze medal.
Suresh Kusale questioned the disparity in the prize money, pointing out that Swapnil was only the second individual Olympic medalist from Maharashtra in 72 years. He also raised concerns about the government’s criteria for determining the prize money, wondering if it was influenced by Swapnil’s humble background.
While the Maharashtra government recently announced a doubling of prize money for athletes winning medals at major sporting events, Suresh Kusale remains dissatisfied with the amount offered to his son. He emphasized that Swapnil’s dedication and achievement deserve greater recognition, and expressed his hope that the government would reconsider its decision to provide a more substantial reward.
