Swapnil Kusale Clinches Bronze at Paris Olympics, Boosts India’s Medal Count to 3

Indian marksman Swapnil Kusale secured yet another shooting medal for India at Paris Olympics 2024, as he secured bronze in the Men’s 50m rifle three positions competition. Spending a large portion of the initial stages of the final in the fifth or sixth spot, Swapnil surged towards the top to grasp a significant bronze. This marks India’s third shooting medal, as well as the third medal in total, at Paris 2024, following Manu Bhaker’s bronze in women’s 10m air pistol and Bhaker and Sarabjot Singh’s men’s 10m air pistol final.

Kusale concluded with 451.4 points, just 0.5 shy of silver medalist Serhiy Kulish at the moment of elimination. Kusale made a remarkable comeback into the medal positions after staying near the bottom for most of the event.

The 28-year-old from Kambalwadi in the Kohlapur district of Maharashtra becomes the sixth male shooter from India to secure an Olympic medal. The Paris Olympics 2024 is also his first appearance at the Olympic Games.

After finishing seventh in the qualifying round, Kusale astonished everyone by securing an unprecedented medal. Kusale became the very first Indian to secure a medal in the 50m rifle three positions competition.

How Kusale is motivated by MS Dhoni

Swapnil Kusale, the first Indian shooter to reach the 50m rifle three positions final at the Olympics, draws inspiration from M S Dhoni as he too is a railway ticket collector like the cricket icon was early in his career.

The 29-year-old from Kambalwadi village near Kolhapur in Maharashtra has been competing in international events since 2012 but he had to wait another 12 years to make his Olympics debut at the Paris Games.

Being composed and patient are prerequisites for a shooter and those two characteristics are also the signature of Dhoni’s personality. It is therefore no surprise that Kusale resonates with Dhoni’s life story.