Swapnil Kusale, a 28-year-old shooter hailing from Kolhapur, Maharashtra, has brought home India’s third medal at the Paris 2024 Olympics. He secured a bronze in the men’s 50m rifle 3 positions event, held in Chateauroux, France, on Thursday. This achievement marks a significant milestone in Kusale’s illustrious shooting career.
Kusale’s journey to the Olympic podium has been marked by consistent success. In 2015, he claimed gold in the men’s 50-metre rifle prone event at the 59th National Shooting Championship in Tughlakabad, defeating renowned shooters like Gagan Narang and Chain Singh. Two years ago, he secured an Olympic quota for India with a fourth-place finish at the 2022 ISSF World Shooting Championships in Cairo. At the same event, he was part of the team that clinched the bronze medal.
Kusale’s winning streak continued at the Asian Games in Hangzhou last year, where he, along with Aishwary Pratap Singh Tomar and Akhil Sheoran, won the team gold medal in the men’s 50m rifle 3 positions event. Although he narrowly missed the bronze medal in the individual category, his performance was commendable.
Kusale boasts an impressive collection of medals, including a silver from the 2023 Asian Shooting Championships and a gold from the 2024 Asian Rifle/Pistol Championships in the men’s 50m rifle 3 positions team event. His latest bronze medal at the Paris 2024 Olympics is a testament to his dedication, hard work, and unwavering determination.
