India’s rifle ace Swapnil Kusale, the Paris Olympics Bronze Medallist in 50m 3P, has had a thoughtful start to the season, one marked by self-assessment, equipment tuning, and selective competition. Notably absent from the Argentina and Peru legs of the ISSF World Cup in South America, Kusale opted out not due to injury or poor form—but by choice, rooted in clarity and long-term preparation.
“I was in the fourth position [after trials], and it wasn’t that I shot badly,” Kusale says. “My scores were slightly low because I hadn’t played many competitions post-Olympics due to the selection race. I realised that I needed to fix my kit and rifle. I didn’t want to just participate—I wanted to go and win. That’s why I chose not to travel to South America.”
As the Indian team impressed in South America, Kusale is focused on getting back to competitive readiness, with new gear set—and now has his sights set firmly on the Munich World Cup, in coming June.
Rohan Chowdhury: You must be looking forward to the Munich World Cup…
Swapnil Kusale: Some changes are happening, so let’s see. I’m hoping it will be good. Preparations have gone well.
Rohan: Could you elaborate on what changes are happening?
Swapnil: Yes, I’ve been travelling a bit for testing—mostly in Germany. It’s personal testing, not a team initiative. I’ll be returning after a friendly match, a regular competition, and then the focus shifts fully to the World Cup.
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Rohan: Did you follow the Argentina and Peru legs of the World Cup? India did well there. How does that impact your mindset?
Swapnil: It’s not about pressure or motivation from others. The competition level is definitely high, but I’m focusing on building self-confidence and working on myself. I don’t compare myself to others—I trust my process.
Rohan: After the selection trials, what changes did you make in your game?
Swapnil: Mainly equipment. After the trials, we had a national camp where we tried a new kit. But it didn’t really work for me, so I went back to the older setup. It takes time to settle with the new gear, and right now, I don’t have much of that. If I get a chance, I might work on a new kit again.
Rohan: A sombre one—your thoughts on the passing of Sunny Thomas?
Swapnil: Obviously, it’s a huge loss. He wasn’t just a coach but a mentor to so many in the Indian shooting community. He was very well-known, and his work was exceptional. He supported athletes and officials alike, and always had the team’s back. We’ve lost someone truly respected.
Rohan: Looking ahead to LA28, the 50m 3P finals will be only in the standing position. What do you make of that?
Swapnil: 3P is about balance across kneeling, prone, and standing. With only standing in the finals, you lose that room to recover if one segment goes wrong. Earlier, a bad start could be made up later. Now, it’s all-or-nothing from the first shot. Personally, I’ll miss the full challenge of all three positions.
Also Read: Arjun Babuta: South American World Cup was just a trailer of what the Indian shooters have in store