Indian shooters continue to shine at the Paris Olympics 2024, with Swapnil Kusale delivering a stellar performance to clinch the bronze medal in the Men’s 50m Rifle 3 Positions event on Thursday. This remarkable achievement marks India’s third medal at this edition of the mega quadrennial Games.
Making his Olympic debut, Swapnil Kusale has etched his name in Indian sporting history. This is the first time India has secured three medals in a single sport at an Olympic Games. Kusale joins the elite company of fellow shooters Manu Bhaker and Sarabjot Singh, who have also medaled at Paris 2024.
Kusale’s journey to the podium was marked by a consistent and composed performance across the three shooting positions—Kneeling, Prone, and Standing. He earned a total score of 451.4, finishing just behind Ukraine’s Kulish Serhiy, who took silver with a score of 461.3, and China’s Yukun Liu, who won gold with a leading score of 463.6.
India’s Swapnil Kusale Shines with Bronze at Paris Olympics 2024
The competition began with Kusale struggling in the kneeling position, scoring 153.3 points, which placed him lower in the rankings. However, he made a significant comeback in the prone position, accumulating 157.0 points and boosting his overall score. Heading into the standing round, Kusale found himself in fifth place.
In a nail-biting final round, Kusale consistently shot in the range of 10s, keeping his medal hopes alive. His final shot of 10 brought his total score to 451.4, narrowly missing the silver medal by just 0.5 points to the Ukrainian competitor. Nevertheless, Swapnil Kusale’s bronze medal performance is a source of immense pride and marks a triumphant debut on the Olympic stage.
