Abhijit Deshmukh from Chateauroux
The Paris Olympics have been a groundbreaking event for India, with Manu Bhaker making history as the first Indian to clinch two medals in a single Games.
Now, Swapnil Kusale has added to the excitement, emerging as a beacon of hope for another medal.
In his debut Olympic appearance, the 29-year-old Kusale etched his name in the record books as the first Indian shooter to advance to the finals of the 50m rifle 3 positions event. Residing in Pune, but hailing from the Kambalwadi village in Radhanagari Taluka, Kolhapur district, Kusale achieved a remarkable score of 590, securing 7th place in the qualification round and surpassing Gagan Narang’s 13th-place finish at Beijing 2008.
“I wasn’t focused on the results; my attention was entirely on my process,” said Kusale in an exclusive interview with RevSportz. “Even after my event was over, I had no idea about the outcome. It was only during the equipment check that I realised I had qualified for the final.”
Much like Manu, who draws inspiration from the Bhagavad Gita, Kusale’s faith is rooted in Lord Ganesha. “Whenever I’m in Pune, I seek blessings at the Dagdusheth Halwai Ganpati temple,” he said. “I try to visit the temple every day. My mother is deeply spiritual, a devoted follower of Lord Vithoba, and performs pooja and chanting daily.
My spirituality comes from her, and I cherish it.
“The last visit was a few months back on Angarika Chaturthi with my parents. It was night time, and the crowd was so massive that we couldn’t have a proper darshan during the aarti.”
There have been other sources of support too. “I’ve faced numerous challenges in my life, but my parents and friends have always stood by me,” said Kusale. “Akshay Suhas Ashtiputra, a former rapid-fire shooter, has been a tremendous help. He’s like a mentor and big brother to me. They are like my extended family, I visit his house regularly and play with his kids.”
“The process is what matters,” said Kusale, when asked about his expectations for a medal. “I’m more focused on the journey than the destination.”
Kusale is an employee of the Indian Railways, central region, and idolises cricketer MS Dhoni.
His coach, Manoj Kumar, praised his talent and dedication, saying, “Swapnil is a gifted shooter, but sometimes his patience falters. We’ve worked extensively on that aspect. At times, I scold him; other times, I approach him calmly. I told him, ‘Swapnil, you are truly remarkable, and I’ll be watching your patience today.’
“After the event, I said, ‘I’ve never seen you shoot so well in your entire life.’”
Highlighting Kusale’s unique qualities, the coach added, “He has an exceptionally sharp eye and is incredibly hardworking and disciplined. We’ve put a lot of effort into refining his patience.”
Kusale proudly sports a tattoo of the Maha Mrityunjaya Mantra, artistically shaped like a trishul, on his back. Manoj Kumar recounted a memorable visit to Mahakal in Ujjain before heading to the Olympics. “We had a camp in Bhopal, and I asked, ‘Swapnil, Mahakal?’ He replied, ‘Yes, chalo chalte hain [Yes, we’ll go].’ So, we went together to Ujjain and had the blessings of Mahakal. He’s also very patriotic, with ‘Bharat’ proudly inscribed on his gun.”