Shooter Swapnil Kusale clinched India’s third medal at the Paris 2024 Olympics by finishing third in the men’s 50m rifle 3 positions final at the National Shooting Center in Châteauroux on Thursday. Kusale delivered an exceptional performance, earning the bronze medal with a score of 451.4 points.
Kusale initially placed seventh in the qualifying round, scoring 590 points, which included 38 inner 10s (Xs) from three positions. His final round performance secured him a spot on the podium, making him the first Indian shooter to win an Olympic medal in the men’s 50m rifle 3 positions event.
The 50m rifle 3 positions final consists of three rounds of 15 shots each in kneeling, prone, and standing positions, followed by an elimination round. Kusale’s remarkable achievement marks India’s third shooting medal at the Paris Olympics.
Earlier in the week, Manu Bhaker won a bronze in the women’s 10m air pistol event, becoming the first Indian shooter to win an Olympic medal. Bhaker made history again by securing another bronze with Sarabjot Singh in the 10m pistol mixed team event, making her the first post-independence Indian athlete to win two medals in a single Olympics edition.
In the men’s 50m rifle 3 positions final, China’s Y.K. Liu won the gold medal with a score of 463.6 points, while Ukraine’s S. Kulish claimed silver with 461.3 points. Kusale’s outstanding performance not only made India proud but also solidified his status as a formidable competitor on the global stage.
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