Who expected a medal for shooter Swapnil Kusale in the men’s 50m 3 positions rifle event? Not many, right. Many were just content to see the shooter from Maharashtra make it to the final of the event at the Paris Olympics. But then, what the 28-year-old managed to do on Thursday is just remarkable, as well as unbelievable.
While the entire nation started celebrating the improbable medal victory, Swapnil sported a calm look on his face and spoke with the broadcaster, JioCinema. He put it plainly to say, “I was a bit nervous, the heartbeat went up, and I was a bit shaky.”
But he was soon to point out, that there was nothing new during the event that he did. “Every shot, even during the change over, from kneeling to prone, and then prone to standing, my focus was the target only.”
On being asked, what was playing in his mind when the eliminations started, Swapnil Kusale answered, “I wasn’t even focused on my scores at all. I think the process was the same during all three positions for me. In fact, I was just doing what I’ve been doing for so many years.”