India’s shooters have hit the bulls-eye at the 2024 Paris Olympics. After Manu Bhaker’s history-making dual bronze medals at the women’s 25m pistol and mixed 10m air pistol events alongside Sarabjot Singh, Swapnil Kusale has added to the glory with a bronze of his own in the 50m rifle 3-position event. This is India's best-ever result in shooting at the Olympics. 

With this bronze medal, Kusale has also made history as the first Indian shooter to clinch a medal in the men’s 50m rifle 3P event. Just 5 days shy of his 28th birthday, Kusale can celebrate early with a bronze medal around his neck.

IC: Hangzhou 2022

India’s shooting contingent has another milestone to its name. This is also the first time that Independent India has won more than two medals in a single sport at a single Olympic Games.

Kusale's journey to the podium was nothing short of spectacular. He started strong, scoring 153.3 in the kneeling round and 156.8 in the prone round. In the standing elimination round, he kept the shooter from Czechia at bay, finishing with a total score of 451.4 to secure third place and boost India's medal tally to three.

Kusale had previously finished seventh in the qualification round with a score of 590-38x. He is the first Indian since Joydeep Karmakar in 2012 to reach the finals of the 50m rifle event.

Kusale’s performance has made India proud and set new benchmarks in India’s Olympic shooting history.