Swapnil Kusale Aims for Gold at Los Angeles 2028 After Paris Bronze
Swapnil Kusale's Ambitious Journey
Inspired by his historic bronze medal win at the 2024 Paris Olympics, Indian shooter Swapnil Kusale is now setting his sights on clinching gold at the upcoming Los Angeles Games.
Kusale made history as the first Indian shooter to earn an Olympic medal in the 50m rifle 3 positions category during the Paris Olympics last summer.
Despite his previous successes, including gold medals at the 2021 and 2022 World Cups, Kusale is eager for even greater achievements.
In a recent conversation at the logo launch of the inaugural Shooting League of India (SLI), he expressed, "The main goal is the next Olympics, but I will also focus on the events leading up to it. My vision is set on LA, and I am diligently working towards that."
He emphasized the importance of dreaming big, stating, "Like any athlete, I aim for the top position."
Currently, Kusale is preparing for the World Cup and is also gearing up for the Asian Games selection trials. He is part of the Indian team heading to the ISSF World Cup Rifle/Pistol in Munich from June 8 to 16.
As he prepares for the Munich World Cup, Kusale remarked, "We are leaving tonight, and I hope to perform my best there." Although the bronze medal from Paris is still settling in, he has already set new targets.
Reflecting on his journey since the Olympics, he shared, "The period after Paris has been quite positive. I am currently addressing some areas where I fell short in Paris. Life has changed a bit since then, but I am enjoying every moment of it."
Kusale has made several adjustments to his health, fitness, and shooting techniques. He recounted, "My first event after the Olympics was the National Championships, where I secured a bronze medal, followed by another bronze at the National Games. After that, it was all about trials."
He opted out of the last two World Cups to take some much-needed rest.
Kusale began his shooting journey in 2009, at around 14 or 15 years old. He was inspired by the Youth Commonwealth Games in 2008, where he first encountered rifle shooting and felt a unique connection to the sport.