Indian Olympic medalist’s father seeks Rs 5 cr, housing, and shooting arena in son’s honour from Maharashtra govt
PTC News Desk: Suresh Kusale, the father of Indian shooter Swapnil Kusale, has voiced his frustration over the inadequate recognition and financial rewards bestowed upon his son by the Maharashtra government following his bronze medal victory at the Paris Olympics this summer. Swapnil Kusale, a resident of Kolhapur, made headlines as one of India’s five individual medallists, clinching bronze in the 50m rifle 3 positions event.
In a press conference held in Pune, Suresh Kusale highlighted that his son received a prize of Rs 2 crore from the Maharashtra government for his Olympic achievement. He expressed his bewilderment over the disparity in rewards, particularly when compared to the incentives offered by the Haryana government to its athletes.
“The Haryana government awards Rs 5 crore to each Olympic medal-winning athlete,” he stated, referencing their policy that grants Rs 6 crore for gold, Rs 4 crore for silver, and Rs 2.5 crore for bronze medallists. Notably, Haryana produced four of the five individual medallists at the recent Olympics, including renowned athletes like Neeraj Chopra, who won silver in men’s javelin, and Manu Bhaker, who earned two bronze medals.
Suresh Kusale further elaborated on the newly announced policy by the Maharashtra government, which awards Rs 2 crore to Olympic bronze medallists. He emphasized that his son’s achievement is significant, being the first individual medallist for the state in 72 years. “Why does the state have such criteria when Swapnil is only the second individual Olympic medal winner from Maharashtra, following wrestler K D Jadhav in 1952?” he questioned.
He expressed concern about what he perceives as a bias against his son’s accomplishments, noting that Swapnil is a professional athlete with Indian Railways.
“Is the amount kept low because Swapnil comes from a humble background? Would the reward have been different if he were the son of an MLA or a minister?” Suresh Kusale asked, underscoring the need for fair treatment regardless of one’s background.
In his concluding remarks, Suresh Kusale outlined specific demands that he believes reflect the true value of the medal his son brought to the country. “Swapnil should receive Rs 5 crore as an award, a flat near Balewadi Sports Stadium for easier access to practice facilities, and his name should be honored by designating the 50-meter-three-position rifle shooting arena in his honor,” he asserted.
Suresh Kusale’s call for recognition follows a similar sentiment expressed by shuttler Chirag Shetty, who noted the Maharashtra government’s prompt recognition of the state’s T20 Cricket World Cup contingent, including stars like Rohit Sharma and Suryakumar Yadav. In contrast, Shetty felt overlooked for his contribution to India’s prestigious victory in the Thomas Cup tournament last year.
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