Paris Olympics: Swapnil Kusale Wins Bronze, India’s Third Medal of the Games

Shooter Swapnil Kusale clinched India’s third medal at the Paris 2024 Olympics by securing bronze in the men’s 50m rifle 3 positions final held at the National Shooting Center in Châteauroux on Thursday. Kusale delivered an outstanding performance amidst fierce competition, finishing third with a final score of 451.4 points. This achievement marks Kusale as the first Indian shooter to win an Olympic medal in the men’s 50m rifle 3 positions event and also signifies the first time the Indian shooting contingent has won three medals in a single Olympic edition.

The 3P (Three-Position Rifle) event involves shooters competing in kneeling, prone, and standing positions, firing three series of five shots each in the kneeling and prone positions. After the 40th shot in the standing position, elimination begins, with the two lowest-scoring shooters being eliminated until a winner is determined.

Kneeling Position: Kusale had a slow start with scores of 50.8, 50.9, and 51.6, totaling 153.3 and placing him in sixth. He needed to perform strongly in the prone position to remain in contention.

Prone Position: Kusale improved with scores of 52.7, 52.2, and 51.9, totaling 310.1 and advancing to fifth place, leaving the standing position to determine the final outcome.

Standing Position: Following a nine-minute break, shooters began two series of five shots each, with eliminations starting after the 40th shot. Kusale, initially fifth with 310.1, moved up to fourth with 361.2 after the first series. He scored 10.6, 10.3, 9.1, 10.1, and 10.3, advancing to third place with 411.6.

Eliminations:

• Sixth Place: Kusale’s 10.5 kept him in third place with 422.1 as France’s Lucas was eliminated.
• Fifth Place: Despite a 9.4, Kusale retained his position as the Norwegian shooter was eliminated.
• Fourth Place: Kusale’s 9.9 secured his spot as the Czech competitor was eliminated.
• Third Place: Kusale scored 10, surpassing Kulish’s 9.9 to win the bronze medal with a final score of 451.4.

China’s Yukun Liu won gold with 463.6 points, while Ukraine’s Serhiy Kulish took silver with 461.3 points. Kusale’s impressive performance not only brought pride to India but also showcased his prowess in shooting sports, solidifying his reputation as a top competitor on the global stage. Kusale had finished seventh in the qualifying round with a total score of 590, including 38 inner 10s.

Notable Achievements: This is India’s third shooting medal at the Paris Olympics 2024. Manu Bhaker won a bronze in the women’s 10m air pistol event and another bronze with Sarabjot Singh in the 10m pistol mixed team event, becoming the first post-independence Indian athlete to win two medals in a single Olympic edition.

About Swapnil Kusale: Born in 1995 to an agricultural family, Kusale works as a Travelling Ticket Examiner with the Pune Railway Division. Initially trained in Maharashtra’s Krida Prabhodini, he chose shooting as his sport. Kusale won gold in the 50m rifle prone 3 event at the Asian Shooting Championships in Kuwait in 2015 and at the 59th and 61st National Shooting Championships in the 50m rifle prone and 3 positions events, respectively.