India’s marksman Swapnil Kusale has secured a bronze medal in the men’s 50m rifle 3 positions event at the Paris 2024 Olympics. Kusale qualified for the final round after finishing 7th in the qualifiers with a total score of 590.
Early Life and Background
Born in 1995, Swapnil Kusale comes from a humble agricultural background and works as a Travelling Ticket Examiner (TTE) with the Pune Railway Division. His journey into the world of sports began in 2009 when his father enrolled him in Maharashtra’s Krida Prabodhini, a primary sports program aimed at nurturing young talent. After a year of rigorous physical training, Kusale chose shooting as his sport of focus.
Rise in Shooting
Kusale’s decision to pursue shooting proved fortuitous. He quickly ascended through the ranks, becoming a sponsored athlete under the Lakshya Sports banner in 2013. His early promise was evident when he clinched a gold medal in the 50m rifle prone 3 positions junior category at the 2015 Asian Shooting Championships in Kuwait. He followed this with a gold at the 59th National Shooting Championship in Tughlakabad, outperforming seasoned shooters like Gagan Narang and Chain Singh.
He replicated this success at the 61st National Championship in Thiruvananthapuram, securing another gold in the 50m rifle 3 positions event.
Achievements and International Success
Kusale continued to build on his achievements. He earned an Olympic quota for India with a fourth-place finish at the 2022 ISSF World Shooting Championships in Cairo, where he also contributed to a team bronze medal. At the 2023 Asian Games in Hangzhou, Kusale, along with teammates Aishwary Pratap Singh Tomar and Akhil Sheoran, won the team gold medal in the men’s 50m rifle 3 positions event. Despite narrowly missing out on an individual medal, finishing fourth, his performance further cemented his status as one of India’s top shooters.
In addition to his team successes, Kusale has earned individual accolades, including a silver medal at the 2023 Asian Shooting Championships and a gold medal in the men’s 50m rifle 3 positions team event at the 2024 Asian Rifle/Pistol Championships.
Notable Achievements:
- World Championship, Cairo (2022): Finished 4th to win Paris Olympics quota for India
- Asian Games (2022): Gold in team event
- World Cup, Baku (2023): Gold in mixed team event; two silver medals in individual & team events
- World Championship, Cairo (2022): Bronze in team event
- World Cup, New Delhi (2021): Gold in team event
Swapnil Kusale’s journey from a small village in Maharashtra to the podium at the Paris 2024 Olympics is a testament to his dedication, talent, and relentless pursuit of excellence in the sport of shooting.
