Paris Olympics 2024: Swapnil Kusale Wins Bronze In Shooting, Third Medal For India
This is the first time India has won three medals in shooting at a single Olympics game.
India's Swapnil Kusale bagged the bronze medal in the men's 50m rifle event on Day 6 of the Paris 2024 Olympics on Thursday. This is the first time India has won three medals in shooting at a single Olympics game.
Kusale concluded the competition with a total score of 451.4, leading India to its third medal at the Olympics. This is India's first-ever Olympic medal in the 50-metre rifle event.
With three bronzes, India is currently placed in the 42nd position in the medal tally as of 4:55 p.m. Earlier, shooters Manu Bhaker and Sarabjot Singh secured the bronze medal in the 10-metre air-pistol mixed-team event. Bhaker became the first Indian to win two medals at a single Olympics.
Kusale became the seventh shooter to bag a medal at the Olympics. Rajyavardhan Singh Rathore was the first shooter to shoot to glory by winning a silver medal in the 2004 Summer Olympics in Athens. Abhinav Bindra created history by winning the first-ever individual Olympic gold medal in Beijing.
Who Is Swapnil Kusale?
Kusale draws inspiration from MS Dhoni, who was also a railway ticket collector like Swapnil in his early career. He has watched the former captain's biopic several times and wishes to follow in his footsteps.
Kusale has been active in international competitions since 2012, but it took him years to make his debut at the Olympic Games in Paris.
Kusale won the gold medal in the 50-metre rifle 3-position team event at the 2023 Asian Games. In the individual event, after leading for most of the competition, he finished fourth as one poor shot dented his podium hopes.
