India’s tally at the Olympics 2024 saw the addition of a third medal with, Swapnil Kusale winning a bronze in the 50m Rifle 3P event. He shot for a score of 451.4 and finished after China and Ukraine. So far, all three medals for India at the Olympics came from shooting. Manu Bhaker won the first medal in the women’s 10m air pistol event, and then her pair with Sarabjot Singh clinched a bronze in the 10m air pistol mixed team event.
What is a 3P event?
Also known as 3 position Rifle shooting, it is an International Shooting Sport Federation event. It involves shooters competing in three positions: kneeling, prone, and standing. The caliber used is 5.6 mm Long Rifle.
The shooters compete in three series of five shots for each of the kneeling and prone positions. The elimination begins after the 40th shot during the competition for standing position.
Who is Swapnil Kusale?
Born on 6 August 1995, Kusale belongs to Kambalwadi village in Kolhapur district. He comes from an agricultural background. Back in 2009, his father enrolled him in the Maharashtra government’s Krida Prabhodini, which is a primary sports program. After a year of intense training there, he was supposed to choose a sport; he opted for shooting.
Since 2012, he has been competing at international level. After a long wait of 12 years, he made his debut at the Olympics and won a medal. After Joydeep Karmakar, he is the second Indian shooter to reach the finals at the Olympics in the 50m rifle event.
In 2015, he started working as a Travelling Ticket Examiner (TTE) with the Pune Railway Division.
Swapnil Kusale’s Important medals
| Year | Event | Medal won |
| 2024 | Olympics, Paris | Bronze medal in 50m 3P event |
| 2023 | Asian Championship, Korea | Silver medal in the 10m air rifle individual event |
| 2022 | World Championship, Cairo | Gold medal in 10m Air Rifle team event |
| 2022 | ISSF World Cup, Changwon | 2 Gold medals in the individual and men team events |
| 2021 | World University Games, Chengdu | Gold medal in 10m Air Rifle individual event |
| 2017 | 61st National Championship, Thiruvananthapuram | Gold medal in 50m rifle |
| 2015 | Asian Shooting Championship | Gold medal in 50m rifle prone 3 in the junior category |