Swapnil Kusale's father disappointed with Maharashtra's prize money for Olympic Bronze

The father of Paris Olympics shooting bronze medallist Swapnil Kusale has expressed dissatisfaction with the Maharashtra government’s decision to award Rs 2 crore as prize money for his son’s achievement. Swapnil Kusale, a 29-year-old shooter from Kolhapur, won the bronze medal in the 50m rifle 3 positions event at the Paris Olympics in August.

Also Read: Paris Olympics: Woman grabs Tom Cruise forcefully, kisses him! Act spurs debate online!

Speaking to reporters in Kolhapur, Kusale’s father, Suresh Kusale, compared the prize money offered by Maharashtra with that of Haryana, a state known for generously rewarding its Olympic athletes. “The Haryana government gives Rs 5 crore to its bronze medal winners, Rs 4 crore to silver medallists, and Rs 6 crore for gold. Maharashtra, a much larger state, should follow suit,” Suresh Kusale stated. He also urged the state government to provide his son with a flat near the Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Sports Complex in Balewadi, Pune.

He questioned the rationale behind Maharashtra’s policy, noting that Swapnil is only the second individual Olympic medal winner from the state in 72 years, following wrestler K D Jadhav’s bronze at the 1952 Helsinki Olympics. Kusale pointed out that despite having far fewer medal winners than Haryana, Maharashtra’s prize amounts remain lower, and urged the government to reconsider its criteria for Olympic athletes.