More than two months have passed since Maharashtra’s shooter Swapnil Kusale earned a bronze medal in the men’s 50m rifle 3-position event at the Paris Olympics on August 1. According to a report in the Times of India, the shooting champion has yet to receive any official communication regarding a reward from the Maharashtra state government.
Kusale’s bronze medal marks a big achievement in the state’s history, making him only the second athlete from Maharashtra to win an individual Olympic medal. The first was wrestler Khashaba Jadhav, who won bronze at the 1952 Helsinki Games, a feat that went uncelebrated for 72 years.
Government promises remain unfulfilled
Although the state government announced a reward of ₹1 crore just a day after Kusale’s victory, he claims to have learnt about the prize money through newspapers rather than any formal notification. There has been no official ceremony to honour his achievement. State minister Chandrakant Patil mentioned plans to offer Kusale a significant government position and a “special package,” but he was unreachable for comments when approached by media.
Uncertainty regarding employment
Kusale, who is employed by the Railways, was advised to apply for a regular government job, but he declined due to stipulations in the offer. “The athlete would have to work from the office regularly after five years or once they turn 30, whichever comes first. I’m already 29, and shooting is my priority, so I decided not to pursue that,” Kusale explained.
Family’s concerns and comparisons
In Kolhapur, Kusale’s father, Suresh, expressed frustration at the state government’s lack of promptness compared to its quick rewards for the T20 World Cup-winning cricketers. Suresh questioned the rationale behind the newly declared cash rewards for Olympic medals, emphasising that Maharashtra has only two medals in 72 years and calling for equitable treatment for athletes.
“Two days ago, state govt declared that a gold medallist in the Olympics will receive Rs 5 crore, a silver medallist will receive Rs 3 crore, and a bronze medallist will receive Rs 2 crore. My question is, how many Olympic medals does Maharashtra have? If there are only two medals in the last 72 years, then what’s the point in setting criteria for medal amounts?” He said.
With Haryana already disbursing rewards, including₹2.5 crore for Manu Bhaker’s two bronze medals and₹4 crore for Neeraj Chopra’s silver, Suresh noted the disparities in recognition between the states.
Request for increased rewards
Swapnil and a friend recently met with Chief Minister Eknath Shinde during the Ganesh festival to advocate for an increase in the reward amount. However, there has been no action taken so far.
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