Indian shooter Swapnil Kusale clinched the first ever Olympic bronze in 50m rifle 3 positions event, taking the country's overall tally to three at the ongoing Paris Games on Aug 1.
Kusale shot an aggregate of 451.4 in the eight-shooter final to finish third after being placed sixth at one stage.
The 28-year-old's medal comes following the stunning performance of Manu Bhaker, who clinched the women's 10m air pistol and mixed team 10m air pistol bronze alongside Sarabjot Singh.
All three medals so far for India have come in shooting events.
The last time a 50m rifle shooter made it to the Olympic finals was in 2012 London when Joydeep Karmakar finished fourth in 50m rifle prone event, a discipline which has been discontinued at the Olympics.
Kusale was a ticket collector and draws inspiration from cricket icon MS Dhoni.
Maharashtra Chief Minister Eknath Shinde congratulated Kusale for the win, saying he has made the country proud.
It is a matter of pride that Kusale, who belongs to Maharashtra, has brought laurels to the country through his achievements in the world of sports, the CM said and extended his wishes for the shooter’s future endeavors in the sport.
Ajit Pawar, deputy CM and head of the Maharashtra Olympic Association, said Kusale, who hails from Kolhapur district, had fulfilled Maharashtra’s dreams.
“Congratulations to our very own Kolhapur boy on bringing glory to the country by winning a bronze medal in the 50m air rifle shooting. I salute his determination and hard work. May you continue to shine and keep making Kolhapur and the whole of India proud,” Pawar said.
Praising Kusale for winning an individual medal, the second from the state after legendary wrestler Khashaba Jadhav, Pawar said the shooter had enhanced Maharashtra's pride and brought new energy to the sports field.
The remarkable performance of Swapnil Kusale, which has added a feather to the nation's cap, has made both India and Maharashtra proud, said Pawar. adding the joy was "indescribable".
"Swapnil, hailing from Kambalwadi near Kolhapur, has brought home the third medal for India at the Paris Olympics, making both Maharashtra and the country proud. He was selected for sports training in the seventh grade and continued his practice at the Bhonsala Military School," he said.
Kusale has achieved historic success through tremendous willpower, determination, persistence and training at Sports Prabodhini and elevated Maharashtra's stature internationally, the deputy CM added.
Today, he has brought honor to his parents, Kolhapur and the Maharashtrian community with his spectacular effort, Pawar said praising Kusale, who had won a team gold in the 2022 Asian Games.
"Congratulations to our Maharashtra's son, @KusaleSwapnil for this exemplary victory of bringing home the Bronze Medal in the 50m Rifle 3 Positions Men's Final at the Paris Olympics 2024. Your unwavering dedication and exceptional skill have brought glory to Bharat. Kudos to your hard work! Maharashtra is immensely proud of you," Fadnavis said on X.
Kusale's achievement is a matter of immense pride, Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Aaditya Thackeray said.
The 28-year-old has been competing in international events since 2012 but had to wait 12 years to make his Olympics debut at the Paris Games.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi also lauded shooter Kusale's bronze-winning performance at the Olympics as "exceptional", noting he is the first Indian athlete to win a medal in the category.
Modi said on X, "Exceptional performance by Swapnil Kusale! Congrats to him for winning the Bronze medal in the Men's 50m Rifle 3 Positions at the Paris Olympics 2024. His performance is special because he’s shown great resilience and skills. He is also the first Indian athlete to win a medal in this category. Every Indian is filled with happiness."
(PTI)
