Swapnil Kusale made the country proud by bagging a bronze medal in the men’s 50m rifle 3 positions event at Paris 2024. He was honored with prize money of INR 2 crore by the Maharashtra government but his father, Suresh Kusale, felt that he deserved much more.

Kusale, who shot India to Olympic glory, became the only second Maharashtrian to bag a podium finish at the Games after KD Jadhav’s bronze medal at 1952 Helsinki.

“The Haryana government gives Rs 5 crore to its each (Olympics medal winning) player (Haryana gives Rs 6 crore to a gold medallist, Rs 4 crore to silver medallist, Rs 2.5 crore to bronze winner),” Suresh Kusale told reporters in Kolhapur.

“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 KD Jadhav in 1952) in 72 years?”

Furthermore, his father also demanded a flat near Balewadi Sports Stadium besides naming the rifle shooting arena after his son.

“Swapnil should get Rs 5 crore as an award, a flat near Balewadi Sports Stadium so that he could easily commute for practice. Swapnil’s name should be given to the 50-meter-three-position rifle shooting arena,” he said when asked about his demands.

Kusale was promoted as an officer on special duty by the Central Railway after his Paris 2024 success.

The Maharashtra government, meanwhile, announced doubling the prize money for athletes bringing laurels for the country in major sporting event.