New Delhi: Indian shooter Swapnil Kusale shot his way to history books with a thrilling bronze medal performance Thursday in the men’s 50m Rifle Three Positions event at the Paris Olympics 2024.
The shooter from Maharashtra, in the process, became the first Indian to win a medal in this event at the Olympics.
Kusale’s masterclass display of marksmanship and mental toughness earned him a podium finish with a score of 451.4, behind China’s Y.K. Liu (463.6) and Ukraine’s S. Kulish (461.3). In the qualifying round, he was placed seventh with a score of 590, highlighted by 38 precise shots that hit the inner ring of the target.
In a post-match interview, the 28-year-old shooter revealed that despite his heart racing, he managed to calm his nerves by focusing on his breathing and disregarding the scores.
His feat marks India’s third medal in the ongoing edition of Olympics, with the previous two coming from another shooter Manu Bhaker. Thursday’s feat also underscores India’s rising prowess in the sport of shooting.
Accolades poured in from the likes of Abhinav Bindra, Viren Rasquinha, and Jwala Gutta. Rasquinha, a former hockey player and not-for-profit foundation OGQ Director and CEO, summed up Kusale’s grit, saying that he overcame the twin heartbreaks of World Championship in 2022 and the Asian Games in 2023.
What a fantastic bronze medal by Swapnil Kusale. He came 4th at the World Championship in 2022, 4th at the Asian Games in 2023. Both heartbreaks for him. But he held his nerve to come 3rd when it really mattered. #paris2024 #olympics #Shooting 🇮🇳 pic.twitter.com/L0AEfg6v4o
— Viren Rasquinha (@virenrasquinha) August 1, 2024
Things haven’t always been easy for Kusale, who faced heartbreak at the Asian Games and World Championships in 2022 where he finished an agonising fourth. Despite missing individual glory at the Asian Games, he had a crucial role in India’s gold medal win in the team event, learning a valuable lesson in the process.
“I had a great experience at the Asian Games and I learned that one bad game is not going to decide my career. Winning and losing is a part of the game. I had to leave the disappointment back immediately to focus on training for bigger achievements,” Kusale reflected in an interview with The New Indian Express in July.
This mindset shift proved instrumental in his success during his debut at the Olympics.
Considered as one of the most demanding disciplines in shooting, the rifle three positions requires shooters to demonstrate exceptional endurance, technique, and mental toughness as they navigate three challenging positions: kneeling, prone, and standing. Each position demands a unique set of skills, and even the slightest miscalculation can throw off aim. To make matters more complex, outdoor conditions like wind, temperature, and humidity can significantly impact performance, making it a true test of a shooter’s prowess.
Competing in this event is equivalent to participating in three separate events, as shooters must adapt to distinct dynamics and rifle accessories for each position. The kneeling position requires stability and control, while the prone position demands precision and patience. The standing position, meanwhile, tests a shooter’s ability to manage their nerves and maintain focus under pressure.
Additionally, the scorching heat played a significant role at the Chateauroux Shooting Centre, as several top contenders struggled to maintain their composure, losing their mark in the process. Kusale’s ability to stay focused and adjust to the challenging conditions ultimately paid off, earning him a spot on the podium while navigating a competitive field of 44 shooters.
Born on 6 August, 1995 at Kambalwadi village in Maharashtra’s Kolhapur district, Kusale was encouraged by his father, a teacher, to take up sports. In 2009, his father enrolled him in the Maharashtra government’s Krida Prabodhini sports programme. After a year of rigorous physical training, Kusale discovered his calling in shooting. He balanced his sporting ambitions with a job as a railway ticket collector in Pune, starting in 2015. This steady income enabled him to purchase his first rifle, marking a significant milestone in his shooting career.
Kusale’s shooting career has been marked by numerous triumphs, including a junior gold medal in the 50m rifle 3 position event at the 2015 Asian Shooting Championships in Kuwait. He went on to claim top honours in the 50m rifle prone event at the 59th National Shooting Championship, outshining seasoned competitors like Gagan Narang and Chain Singh.
Kusale repeated this feat at the 61st National Championship, securing gold in the 50m rifle 3 position event. His success continued with a fourth-place finish at the 2022 ISSF World Shooting Championships in Cairo, earning India an Olympic quota berth in the men’s 50-metre rifle 3 position event.
After a strong performance in the trials held in Delhi and Bhopal in May, he was selected to represent India in the 50m rifle 3 positions event at the Olympics, despite finishing fifth in the final trial, thanks to his consistent scores in the preceding trials.
“I don’t follow anyone specific in the shooting world. Outside of that, I admire Dhoni for the person that he is. My sport requires me to be as calm and patient as he is on the field. I also relate to his story as I am a ticket collector like he was,” Kusale told PTI the qualification round.
(Edited by Tony Rai)