Swapnil Kusale won the bronze medal in the Paris Olympics 2024. The shooter won the medal in the 50m rifle three positions. The medal was India’s first-ever in this event in history. He has expressed his determination to change the color of the medal in the upcoming Olympics. It was a dream come true moment for the Maharashtrian shooter. He waited for the moment for 12 long years.
After winning the medal Swapnil Kusale received a warm welcome in his hometown. The 29-year-old shooter was also promoted to the Railways. The Maharashtra government also announced a reward of INR 2 crore. While he was being awarded the medal, his eyes were fixed on the Indians present and the tricolour. However, his father is not happy with the Maharashtra Government of the prize money they offered after his son’s success.
His father, Suresh Kusale, claimed on Monday that his son should receive a prize of Rs 5 crore and a flat in Pune. He contrasted the government to Haryana, which offers Rs 5 crore to each (Olympic medal-winning) player. It has been an incompetency from the Maharashtra Govt. for their boy. Suresh Kusale wanted a flat near the Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Sports Complex in Balewadi, Pune.
The Maharashtra Government does best for its athletes
Is the Maharashtra Government incompetent? Speaking to the reports Swapnil Kusale’s father said, “As per a new policy announced by the Maharashtra government, an Olympic bronze medal winner will get Rs 2 crore. Why does the state form such criteria when Swapnil was only the second individual Olympic medal winner from Maharashtra (after wrestler K D Jadhav in 1952) in 72 years?”
“Five individuals won medals in the Paris Olympics for India of which four were from Haryana and one, Swapnil Kusale, from Maharashtra. Haryana is a much smaller state compared to Maharashtra, but it gives higher prize money to its medal-winning athletes.” However the Maharashtra government recently announced doubling the prize money to players winning medals at major sports events, including Olympics, World Championships and Asian Games, among others.
