From TTE to Olympic Triumph: Swapnil Kusale Secures India’s First 50m Rifle Medal
Indian shooter Swapnil Kusale made history at the Paris 2024 Olympics, clinching a bronze medal in the men's 50m rifle, 3 positions event. This remarkable achievement marks India's first-ever Olympic medal in this category and the third overall in rifle shooting, following the footsteps of legends Gagan Narang and Abhinav Bindra. At the National Shooting Center in Châteauroux, Kusale's journey to the podium was a thrilling display of skill and resilience. During the first 15 kneeling shots at the National Shooting Center in Châteauroux, Kusale shot a score of 153.3, placing him sixth, two shots behind the leader, Norwegian shooter Jon-Hermann. However, the 28-year-old Indian shooter managed to move up to third place at the end of stage 1, after which the bottom two shooters were eliminated, thanks to some steady shooting in the three-prone series and the two-standing series. After that, Kusale was eliminated after every shot in stage 2, but he managed to keep his place in the top three and secure a medal with his next three shots of 10.5, 9.4, and 9.9. But his subsequent shot, a 10.0, was unable to keep him in the running for the gold. Liu Yukun of the People's Republic of China, who held the event's world record, won the gold medal with a score of 463.6. At the same time, Serhiy Kulish of Ukraine (461.3) added another Olympic silver medal to his collection, having earned one in Rio 2016. (Source: Google Images) For the past nine years, Swapnil Kusale has diligently served as a Travelling Ticket Examiner (TTE) with Central Railways in Pune, balancing his professional responsibilities with his passion for shooting. His dedication paid off spectacularly at the Paris 2024 Olympics, where he secured a historic bronze medal in the men's 50m rifle, 3 positions event. This achievement not only marks India's first Olympic medal in this category but also ensures that Kusale's name will become well-known far beyond the railway corridors. Kusale’s triumph is part of a broader success story for India in shooting at these Olympics, with the nation already celebrating three medals in the sport. Manu Bhaker clinched a bronze in the women's 10m air pistol individual competition and, alongside Sarabjot Singh, added another bronze in the 10m air pistol mixed team event. Kusale's victory adds to this impressive tally, showcasing the rising prowess of Indian shooters on the world stage and inspiring countless others to follow their dreams with strong determination.