Paris: In a thrilling display of skill and precision, Indian shooter Swapnil Kusale has made history at the Paris 2024 Olympics on Thursday.
Scoring an impressive 451.4 in the men’s 50m rifle 3 positions final, Kusale clinched the bronze medal, becoming the third Indian shooter to reach the podium at these Games.
This remarkable achievement follows the successes of Manu Bhaker in the women's 10m air pistol and 10m air pistol mixed team, and Sarabjot Singh in the 10m air pistol mixed team. All three medals have been bronze, marking India's best-ever performance in Olympic shooting.
Kusale’s bronze is particularly notable as it makes him the first Indian shooter to win a medal in the men’s 50m rifle 3 positions event at the Olympics.
The 28-year-old, who will turn 29 on August 6th, celebrated his upcoming birthday with this incredible achievement. In the final, Kusale posted scores of 153.3 in the kneeling round and 156.8 in the prone round. In the tense standing position elimination stage, he held off strong competition from Czechia's shooter to secure his place on the podium.
Earlier in the competition, Kusale had finished seventh in the qualification round, scoring 590-38x. But in the final, he rose to the occasion, showcasing his experience and composure.
The gold medal was claimed by Liu Yukun of the People’s Republic of China, who is also the current world record holder with a score of 468.9. Liu won with a total of 463.6, while Ukraine's Serhiy Kulish took silver with 461.3.
An incredible achievement for Swapnil Kusale and Indian shooting! As the nation celebrates these historic moments, stay tuned for more highlights from Team India's Olympic journey.