Pune: Suresh Kusale father of Olympic bronze medallist shooter Swapnil Kusale, has expressed dissatisfaction over the prize money and recognition his son received from the Maharashtra government after his remarkable performance at the Paris Olympics. Swapnil Kusale, who hails from Kolhapur, secured a bronze medal in the 50m rifle 3 positions event, making him one of India’s five individual medallists at the prestigious global event.
Suresh Kusale voiced his concerns during a press interaction in Pune, where he highlighted that the Maharashtra government awarded his son ₹2 crore for the bronze medal, significantly lower than the prize money awarded by Haryana for its medal winners. “The Haryana government gives ₹5 crore to each Olympic medal-winning player. Why does Maharashtra award only ₹2 crore when Swapnil is the state’s first individual medallist in 72 years?” he questioned, referencing the state’s new policy that was recently announced.
Suresh pointed out the disparity, noting that Swapnil’s accomplishment was the first individual Olympic medal for Maharashtra since wrestler K D Jadhav’s bronze in 1952. He further criticized what he perceived as an unfair treatment, implying that his son’s humble background might have influenced the lesser reward. “Would the amount have been the same if Swapnil was the son of an MLA or minister?” he remarked.
In addition to seeking ₹5 crore for his son’s achievement, Suresh made further demands: a flat near the Balewadi Sports Stadium for easier access to training facilities and renaming the 50m rifle 3 positions shooting arena in honor of Swapnil.
Suresh Kusale’s grievances mirror those raised by badminton star Chirag Shetty, who criticized the Maharashtra government for celebrating cricketers from the state while ignoring athletes like him, who helped India win the prestigious Thomas Cup last year
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