8 october 2024 : Suresh Kusale, the father of shooter Swapnil Kusale, has voiced his disappointment over the prize money and benefits his son is receiving from the Maharashtra government after his success at the Paris Olympics this summer. Swapnil, a resident of Kolhapur, earned a bronze medal in the 50m rifle 3 positions event, making him one of India’s five individual medallists at the Games.
In a press conference in Pune, Suresh revealed that his son received ₹2 crore in prize money for the bronze medal, questioning why this amount is significantly lower than what athletes from Haryana receive. He noted that the Haryana government awards ₹5 crore to each Olympic medalist, with amounts varying based on medal color—₹6 crore for gold, ₹4 crore for silver, and ₹2.5 crore for bronze.
Haryana produced four out of the five individual medallists, including Neeraj Chopra, who won silver in men’s javelin, and Manu Bhaker, who secured two bronze medals. Suresh pointed out that, according to a new policy from the Maharashtra government, Olympic bronze medal winners receive ₹2 crore. He emphasized that his son is the first individual medallist from Maharashtra in 72 years, following wrestler K D Jadhav’s win in 1952.
Suresh criticized what he sees as bias against his son, who works with the Indian Railways, suggesting that someone from a privileged background might have received more recognition. He questioned, “Is the amount kept low because Swapnil comes from a humble background? Would the reward have been the same if he were the son of an MLA or a minister?”
In his statement, Suresh made a list of demands, believing they reflect the true value of his son’s medal. He requested that Swapnil receive ₹5 crore as a reward, a flat near Balewadi Sports Stadium for easier access to practice, and that the 50-meter three-position rifle shooting arena be named after Swapnil.
Suresh’s concerns echo those of shuttler Chirag Shetty, who highlighted that while the Maharashtra government quickly honored the T20 Cricket World Cup team, including stars like Rohit Sharma and Suryakumar Yadav, he received no acknowledgment for his role in India’s victory at the prestigious Thomas Cup last year.
