Indian Shooter Swapnil Kusale Secures Historic Bronze in Men’s 50m Rifle 3 Positions at Paris 2024 Olympics
News Mania Desk/Agnibeena Ghosh/1st August 2024
Indian shooter Swapnil Kusale achieved a historic milestone by winning the bronze medal in the men’s 50m rifle 3 positions final at the Paris 2024 Olympics on Thursday. This accomplishment marks India’s first-ever Olympic medal in the 50m rifle 3 positions event and adds to the country’s growing success in shooting sports.
Kusale’s performance at the National Shooting Center in Châteauroux was a testament to his skill and determination. After a challenging start, where he was positioned sixth with a score of 153.3 following the initial 15 shots in the kneeling position, Kusale made a significant comeback. Despite being two points behind the leader, Jon-Hermann of Norway, Kusale demonstrated exceptional consistency in subsequent rounds.
The 28-year-old shooter showcased his ability to adapt and excel under pressure, making notable improvements during the prone and standing position series. His remarkable shooting in these stages allowed him to climb to third place by the end of the first stage, with the bottom two competitors being eliminated.
In the second stage, where shooters faced elimination after every single shot, Kusale maintained his top-three position with scores of 10.5, 9.4, and 9.9. Although he managed a score of 10.0 on his final shot, it wasn’t sufficient to secure a higher rank. The gold medal was claimed by Liu Yukun of the People’s Republic of China, who set a new world record with a score of 463.6. Ukraine’s Serhiy Kulish won the silver medal with 461.3, adding to his silver from the Rio 2016 Olympics.
Kusale’s final tally of 451.4 ensured his place on the podium, highlighting his exceptional performance in a highly competitive field. This bronze medal is a significant achievement for Indian shooting, marking only the third Olympic medal in rifle shooting for the country, following Abhinav Bindra’s gold in the men’s 10m air rifle at Beijing 2008 and Gagan Narang’s bronze in the same event at London 2012.
Reflecting on his achievement, Kusale expressed his emotional response, stating, “I have a lot of emotions right now. This medal means a lot. It is not a gold, but I am pleased I got a medal. To get an Olympic medal is a dream.” His sentiment captures the pride and significance of his accomplishment, despite falling short of the gold.
Kusale’s journey to the final was marked by a strong performance in the qualifiers, where he secured a place in the eight-man final by finishing seventh with a total score of 590. Fellow Indian shooter Aishwary Pratap Singh Tomar, who also competed, narrowly missed the cut by finishing eighth.
With this victory, India has now earned three medals at the Paris 2024 Olympics, all in shooting events. Kusale’s historic bronze adds to the country’s rich legacy in the sport and sets a new benchmark for future competitors.
