Paris Olympics 2024: Swapnil Kusale wins bronze in 50m rifle 3 positions event, third medal for India

Swapnil Kusale won India’s third medal at the Paris Olympics 2024 as he clinched a bronze in the 50m rifle 3 positions event on Thursday. Kusale grabbed the bronze medal with a total score of 451.4 and became the first Indian to win an Olympic medal in the 50m rifle event. The gold went to China’s Yukun Liu for a score of 463.6, and Ukraine’s Serhiy Kulish (461.3) won silver.

Norway’s Jon-Hermann Hegg led the eight-man field after the kneeling and prone rounds but eventually finished fifth.

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All three medals for India so far at the Paris Olympics have come in shooting. Manu Bhaker won the first medal (bronze) in the women’s 10m air pistol event and then clinched a bronze in the 10m air pistol mixed team event with Sarabjot Singh.

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This is the first time India have won more than two medals in one sport at a single Olympic Games.

The 50m rifle 3 positions final includes four rounds. After 15 shots in kneeling and prone positions respectively, and 10 shots in standing position, the elimination round is conducted.

Swapnil Kusale won by scoring 153.3 in the kneeling position, 156.8 in the prone position, and 101.5 in the standing position. In the elimination round, Swapnil shot 10.5, 9.4, 9.9, and 10 to win the bronze medal for India.

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“I have a lot of emotions right now," Kusale said after his bronze medal win. “This medal means a lot. It is not a gold, but I am pleased I got a medal. To get an Olympic medal is a dream.”

Kusale had qualified for the 50m rifle 3 positions final after scoring 590-38x in the qualification round.

Kusale is also the first 50m rifle Indian shooter after Joydeep Karmakar to reach the final at the Olympics. Karmakar finished fourth in the 50m rifle prone event at London 2012, a discipline which has been discontinued at the Olympics.