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Raipur, August 01, 2024: In a historic achievement, Swapnil Kusale has become the first Indian shooter to secure a medal in the 50m Rifle 3 Position (3P) event at the Paris Olympics.
Swapnil, a Target Olympic Podium Scheme (TOPS) athlete, showcased remarkable resilience and precision.
He steadily climbed the ranks to finish 3rd with a total score of 451.4 points, securing a Bronze medal for the nation.
This is India’s third medal at the Paris Olympics, with all three coming from shooting events.
Swapnil qualified for the final round after finishing 7th in the qualification stage, where he scored a total of 590 points. His consistent performance secured his place among the top contenders in the event.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi in a congratulatory message said, exceptional performance by Swapnil Kusale. Congrats to him for winning the bronze medal in the Men’s 50 M Rifle 3 Positions at the Paris Olympics 2024.
“His performance is special because he’s shown great resilience and skills. He is also the first Indian athlete to win a medal in this category. Every Indian is filled with happiness,” said Modi.
Youth Affairs and Sports Minister Mansukh Mandaviya said, Congratulations to Swapnil Kusale for winning a Bronze medal in the Men’s 50m Rifle 3 positions at the Paris Olympics 2024.
The first Indian to win a medal in Olympics in this event- your achievement makes us incredibly proud, the Minister said.
Born on August 6, 1995, in Pune, Swapnil Kusale comes from an agricultural family.
His journey into sports began in 2009 when his father enrolled him in Maharashtra government’s primary sports program, Krida Prabhodini. After one year of hardcore physical training, he had to choose one sport and he chose shooting. In 2013, he was sponsored by Lakshya Sports.
In 2015, he won gold in 50m rifle prone 3 in the junior category in 2015 Asian Shooting Championships in Kuwait.
He also won the 59th National Shooting Championship held in Tughlakabad ahead of Gagan Narang and Chain Singh in the 50m rifle prone event.
Kusale repeated the same performance in 61st National Championship in Thiruvananthapuram by winning a gold in 50m rifle 3 position.
