Swapnil won bronze in Men’s 50M Rifle 3 Positions: First Indian to win an Olympic medal in this category of shooting; MS Dhoni role model

Swapnil Kusale won the bronze medal in the men’s category of 50m rifle 3 position at the Paris Olympics on Wednesday. This is India’s third medal in the Olympics 2024. The special thing is that so far all the three medals in this Olympics have been won in shooting events only.

Swapnil scored a total of 451.4 points in the final. After winning the medal, Swapnil said, ‘I am very happy that I won a medal for the country. I was very nervous during the final, my heart was beating fast.’

With this, Swapnil has created history. This is the first time that an Indian shooter has won a medal in the 50 meter rifle three position event of the Olympics.

Swapnil Kusale with the bronze medal.

Swapnil Kusale (right) congratulates Liu Yukun of China, who won gold in the category.

Swapnil taking aim during the match.

Made Olympic debut after 12 years, role model MS Dhoni
Swapnil was born in Pune, Maharashtra. 28-year-old Swapnil has been participating in international shooting events since 2012. He will make his Olympic debut in 2024. Swapnil has already won a bronze medal in the first Olympics.

Swapnil’s role model is MS Dhoni. Like Dhoni, Swapnil also works as a ticket collector in Central Railway. Like Dhoni, Swapnil also remains calm in the shooting arena. Swapnil’s mother is the sarpanch of Kambalwadi village. His father and brother are teachers.

Kusale wins gold in Asian Games
Swapnil Kusale has won the gold medal in the 50m rifle prone 3 event at the Asian Shooting Championship held in Kuwait in 2015. He has defeated shooters like Gagan Narang and Chain Singh in the 59th National Shooting Championship.

Prime Minister Modi congratulated
Prime Minister Narendra Modi has congratulated Swapnil. He tweeted, Exceptional performance by Swapnil Kusale! Congratulations for winning the bronze medal in the Men’s 50m Rifle 3 Positions at the Paris Olympics. His performance is special as he has shown great resilience and skill. He is also the first Indian athlete to win a medal in this category. Every Indian is happy.

Abhinav Bindra appreciated
Abhinav Bindra, who won India’s first individual gold at the Olympics, tweeted, “So thrilled by Swapnil’s historic bronze medal win in shooting at the Paris Olympics! Your hard work, patience and passion have truly paid off. Competing at the highest level and winning medals in shooting is a testament to your dedication and talent. You have made India so proud and shown everyone what it means to chase your dreams. Paris 2024 Olympics has been an incredible event and your achievement adds to its unforgettable moments. May you win many more medals in the future and keep shining forever.”