Paris Olympics 2024: Indian shooter Swapnil Kusale made history at the Paris 2024 Olympics, claiming the countrys third bronze medal in the shooting competition with in the mens 50m rifle event. Kusales outstanding performance at the National Shooting Center in Châteauroux saw him secure third place with a score of 451.4 points, becoming the first Indian to ever win an Olympic medal in this event.From kneeling to standing strongSwapnil Kusale began the 50m rifle 3 position final in sixth place, scoring 153.3 in the kneeling stage. However, he steadily climbed the ranks, moving to fifth place after the prone stage with a total score of 310.1, just 0.6 points behind Ukraines Serhiy Kulish. A strong start in the standing stage, where he scored 51.1 in the first five shots, propelled him to fourth place, merely 0.4 points shy of the bronze medal position. Rise of Indian shootingThis event consists of three rounds of 15 shots each in kneeling, prone and standing positions, followed by an elimination round. Notably, Swapnil had qualified for the final with a seventh-place finish, scoring 590 with 38 inner 10s. Meanwhile, Indias shooting contingent had already made history, with Manu Bhaker winning bronze in the womens 10m air pistol event and becoming the first Indian shooter to win an Olympic medal. Bhaker then paired with Sarabjot Singh to claim another bronze in the 10m pistol mixed team event, making her the first post-independence Indian athlete to win two medals in a single Olympic edition.Chinas Y.K. Liu took top honors with a score of 463.6 points, followed closely by Ukraines S. Kulish, who secured silver with 461.3 points. Meanwhile, Swapnil Kusales remarkable bronze medal win not only brought pride to India but also showcased his exceptional skill and mastery in shooting sports, cementing his reputation as a force to be reckoned with on the international stage. This achievement marked Indias third shooting medal at the Paris Olympics 2024, further highlighting the countrys growing prowess in the sport.Who is Swapnil KusaleSwapnil Kusale, born in 1995 into an agricultural family. His father and brother are teachers and his mother is the Sarpanch of Kambalwadi village. Currently serves as a Travelling Ticket Examiner (TTE) with the Pune Railway Division. Initially enrolled in Maharashtras Krida Prabhodini, a primary sports program, Kusale underwent a year of rigorous physical training before selecting shooting as his sport.In 2015, he secured a gold medal in the 50m rifle prone 3 event in the junior category at the Asian Shooting Championships in Kuwait. He also achieved victory at the 59th National Shooting Championship in Tughlakabad, outshining Gagan Narang and Chain Singh in the 50m rifle-prone event. Kusale continued his winning streak at the 61st National Championship in Thiruvananthapuram, clinching a gold medal in the 50m rifle 3 position event. MS Dhoni is Swapnils ideal Swapnil considers MS Dhoni as his ideal and said, I dont follow any particular athlete in the shooting world. I am a fan of Dhonis personality outside the shooting world. Just like Dhoni is calm on the cricket field, my game also requires a calm and patient nature. I can relate to his story because I also work as a ticket collector like him.
