New Delhi: Despite competing in international events since 2012, Swapnil Kusale had to wait for 12 years to make his Olympic debut. It was worth the wait because when he finally appeared on the grandest stage in the sporting world, he made sure to leave a lasting mark.
Kusale, who on Wednesday, became the first Indian shooter to reach the 50m rifle three position final at the Olympics, scripted history a day later by winning the country’s first-ever medal in this event at the Summer Games.
The 28-year-old shooter fired a total of 451.4 in the eight-shooter final to claim a bronze medal. Kusale showed nerves of steel and raised his game under immense pressure to climb from fifth to third spot.
Kusale, who was in the fifth spot after the Kneeling and Prone positions, looked out of the medal race but upped his game in the Standing position to claim a spot on the podium.
Kusale brought home India’s third bronze in shooting and third medal overall at the Paris 2024 Games.
Who is Swapnil Kusale and who is his inspiration?
Kusale draws inspiration from MS Dhoni. Like the legendary cricketer was in his early days, Kusale too is a Railway ticket collector.
The 28-year-old athlete, who hails from Kambalwadi village near Kolhapur in Maharashtra, showed in the finals exactly why he is inspired by Dhoni. The former India cricket captain was known for his calm and patient demeanour and Swapnil too showed the same traits in the 50m rifle three position final.
“I don’t follow anyone specific in the shooting world. Outside of that, I admire Dhoni for the person that he is. My sport requires me to be as calm and patient as he is on the field. I also relate to his story as I am a ticket collector like he was,” Kusale told PTI on Wednesday after finishing seventh in qualification.
Kusale, whose father and brother are teachers in a district school and his mother is the sarpanch of Kambalwadi village, has been working for Central Railways since 2015.
He trains under former Indian Olympian Tejaswini Sawant in Kolhapur.
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Paris 2024 Olympics: Swapnil Kusale, who was in the fifth spot after the Kneeling and Prone positions, looked out of the medal race but upped his game in the Standing position to claim a spot on the podium. Sports Sports News: Latest Cricket News, Cricket Live Score, Sports Breaking News from Sports Today
