2024 Paris Olympics: Swapnil Kusale secures bronze, adds third shooting medal for India

Swapnil Kusale has made headlines by clinching his first Olympic bronze medal in the 50m rifle 3 positions event at the Summer Olympics in Paris. This remarkable achievement marks India's third medal in shooting at these Games.

Kusale's performance saw him score an aggregate of 451.4 points over six rounds, a notable feat considering he finished seventh in the qualification round. The gold medal was claimed by Liu Yukun of China, who scored an impressive 463.6 points, while Serhiy Kulish of Ukraine took silver with 461.3 points.

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This event was Kusale’s Olympic debut, having earned his spot by finishing fourth at the World Championships in Cairo. During that championship, he was also part of the Indian men’s team that secured a bronze medal.

India's shooting team has shown strong form at these Olympics, with Manu Bhaker opening the medal tally with a bronze in the 10m air pistol. Bhaker further added to the haul by winning another bronze alongside Sarabjot Singh in the 10m air pistol mixed team event.

Kusale’s success also marks a significant moment for Indian shooting. The last time an Indian shooter reached the finals in a 50m rifle event was in 2012, when Joydeep Karmakar finished fourth in the now-discontinued 50m rifle prone discipline. Kusale’s achievement not only brings pride to the nation but also highlights the continued excellence and promise of Indian shooters on the global stage.