In a historic performance, Swapnil Kusale secured India’s third medal at the Paris Olympics 2024, clinching a bronze in the men’s 50m rifle 3 position final. This marks a significant achievement as Kusale, participating in his maiden Olympics, became the first Indian to win a medal in this event. The 28-year-old’s journey to the podium was marked by resilience, having previously missed medals at both the 2023 Shooting World Championships and the Asian Games.
Kusale faced a challenging start, ranking seventh after his initial shot but quickly improved, showcasing consistency and determination. He navigated through the kneeling, prone, and standing positions, gradually climbing the ranks. Despite a rocky start in the standing series, Kusale managed to recover, displaying his tenacity with impressive scores that kept him in the running.
As the competition reached its climax, Kusale delivered a series of strong shots, briefly holding second place. However, a critical low score saw him momentarily drop before he regained his footing to secure the bronze. Kusale’s final score of 451.4 placed him just 0.6 points behind silver medalist Serhiy Kulish, with Liu Yukun taking gold. This medal, alongside those won by fellow shooters Manu Bhaker and Sarabjot Singh, represents a milestone for Indian shooting, marking the first time the nation has won three shooting medals in a single Olympic Games.
