Paris Olympics bronze medallist Swapnil Kusale had a mixed outing at the 2025 Shooting National Trials. A composite score in both trials didn’t help Kusale to make the cut into the national team, but in Trial-1 (T1) he topped the charts in the finals.
In the men’s 50m 3P qualification round of T1, he posted an impressive 592 out of 600, securing third place. The Navy’s Kiran Ankush Jadhav topped the leaderboard with a stellar 596, while Akhil Sheoran followed closely with 593.
However, Kusale truly showcased his mettle in the final. After taking the lead following the first five shots in the kneeling position, he never looked back. Expertly pulling away at every stage of the grueling contest, he sealed victory with a commanding 465.1, finishing 2.6 points ahead of Sheoran. Veteran marksman Chain Singh secured third place.
Reflecting on his performance, Kusale admitted to inconsistencies but remained focused on making improvements. “One trial went well, while the other was pretty poor. I have to make changes to my kit and my rifle. My gear is more than a year old now, and I need a better one. I am planning to get a new rifle, so the next few weeks will be spent changing my entire equipment set-up,” he told RevSportz.
As far as the upcoming tournaments are concerned, Kusale is not rushing into competitions. “The trials are over, and I am thinking of participating in the World Cup, in Munich, in June. I’m skipping the other World Cups before that because I want to focus on upgrading my gear and preparing well,” he shared.
Since winning the bronze at the Olympics, Kusale has felt a significant shift in his confidence levels. “I am more confident now. For instance, I couldn’t prepare much for the National Games and these trials due to some family commitments. Earlier, I used to panic a lot if I missed a single training session. But now, I know I can still push myself even with a few missed sessions. I had a podium finish at the National Games (third) and now in the trials,” he explained.
With an eye on long-term consistency, Kusale is placing greater emphasis on fitness. “We are just focusing on the basics and working on fitness. My physio is helping me improve my core strength, which has sometimes been an issue,” he noted.
Previously, Kusale had acknowledged that standing position was his weak point. When asked about his progress on that aspect of his game, he sounded positive. “I feel more confident in standing now. The standing round creates pressure for any shooter, but the key is to stay calm and shoot. I think I have improved a lot. In T1, I scored 197 in qualification, with only one 9.6 as my lowest (score) in the final.”
Despite the added presence of Olympic medallists at the trials, Kusale emphasised that the camaraderie among shooters remains unchanged. “We are all friends and have trained together for ages. The equation hasn’t changed at all, and I don’t want it to either,” he said.
Kusale also remains deeply spiritual, a trait that he believes plays a crucial role in his performance. “I am spiritual and will always be. It helps me stay calm and focused, which is important both in my sport and in life.”
Since his Olympic success, Kusale’s schedule has become busier, with increased event commitments. However, he prioritises staying connected with his loved ones. “The only change is that I have to attend a lot more events now. It’s an extra engagement, but I try to stay with my family as much as possible. A huge part of the year, we are away from home, so I make an effort to stay connected with my loved ones.”
With his sights set on refining his gear and preparation in the coming months, Kusale’s journey post-Paris continues with a blend of confidence, focus, and determination.