India’s medal tally at the Paris 2024 Olympics continues to rise, with Swapnil Kusale securing a bronze medal in the men’s 50m rifle 3 position event. This marks India’s third shooting medal at these Games, following earlier successes by Manu Bhaker and Sarabjot Singh, making it a historic achievement for the country.
At 28 years old, Kusale made his Olympic debut in Paris and became the first Indian shooter to medal in this event. His path to the podium wasn’t easy, as he battled through the competition, overcoming a challenging start to finish third.
During the final, Kusale began in sixth place after the kneeling event and maintained fifth after the prone event. However, he made a remarkable comeback in the standing position, steadily climbing the ranks. Despite a few setbacks, he delivered strong shots towards the end, ultimately securing the bronze with a total score of 451.4, just 0.6 points shy of silver.
Kusale’s achievement is especially significant given his previous near-misses at both the 2023 Shooting World Championships and the Asian Games, where he finished fourth. His perseverance paid off on the Olympic stage, contributing to India’s most successful shooting campaign in Olympic history.
