Swapnil Kusale’s bronze medal in Paris Olympics 2024 ‘fitting gift for Central Railway’: Pune divisional railway manager
Swapnil Kusale, a Travelling Ticket Examiner (TTE) from the Pune Railway Division, clinched a bronze medal in the 50m rifle 3 position event during the Paris Olympics.
The competition was held at the Chateauroux Shooting Centre, where Kusale achieved a score of 451.4, securing third place behind Yukun Liu of China (gold) and Serhiy Kulish of Ukraine (silver).
Hailing from an agricultural background, Kusale was born in 1995 and was identified for the Maharashtra government’s sports development program, Krida Prabhodini, at the young age of 14.
Throughout his shooting career, Kusale has garnered numerous medals in both national and international tournaments, such as claiming gold in the 50m rifle prone event at the 2015 Asian Shooting Championships and a bronze in the 10m air rifle team event at the 2022 ISSF World Cup.
When asked about his inspiration, Kusale credits MS Dhoni for his unwavering focus and ability to excel in high-pressure situations.
Indu Rani Dubey, Divisional Railway Manager of Pune Division, expressed her excitement, stating, “We are overjoyed! This victory is a moment of pride for our country, state, and the Indian Railways. We are all celebrating this historic achievement along with the entire nation.”Dubey mentioned that Kusale will be warmly welcomed back to Pune Division in a grand manner upon his return from Paris. “Since joining, he has shown great dedication to his sport. He is a focused individual who has presented a wonderful gift to Central Railway by following his passion,” she added.