It was a dream come true moment for Indian shooter Swapnil Kusale when he bagged the Bronze medal in 50 m rifle 3 position event in Paris Olympics 2024 on Wednesday. Earlier, Kusale became the first Indian shooter to qualify for the final of the aforementioned event.
On Wednesday, Kusale became the first Indian shooter to win an Olympic medal in 50 m rifle 3 position event. Furthermore, this is India’s third medal in rifle shooting after Abhinav Bindra’s Gold in 2008 Beijing Olympics and Gagan Narang’s Bronze in London Olympics 2012.
Moreover, this is India’s third medal of the ongoing Olympics and all of them have come in shooting.
“I have a lot of emotions right now,” Kusale said. “This medal means a lot. It is not a gold, but I am pleased I got a medal. To get an Olympic medal is a dream.”
While shooting at the National Shooting Center in Châteauroux, Kusale was sixth after the first 15 shots in kneeling positions with a total of 153.3. However, the Indian was able to bounce back with scores of 10.5, 9.4 and 9.9 in stage 2.
But he scored a 10.0 which was not good enough to keep him in the gold medal race. The People’s Republic of China’s Liu Yukun, the world record holder in the event, won the gold medal with 463.6 whereas Ukraine’s Serhiy Kulish (461.3) won the Silver medal.
Before Swapnil, Manu Bhaker won a bronze in the women’s 10m air pistol individual event. Bhaker then teamed up with Sarabjot Singh to win the Bronze medal in mixed team event in 10 m air pistol.
