Olympic medalist Swapnil Kusale’s father expressed his disappointment over the prize money of Rs 2 crore for his son by the Maharashtra Government, as reported by PTI.
Comparing the prize money with Haryana, he said that the north Indian state splashes a higher amount of money for its athletes.
Swapnil, who hails from Kolhapur, won the bronze medal in the men’s 50m rifle three positions shooting event at the 2024 Paris Olympics.
The 29-year-old’s father, Suresh Kusale, said his son should get Rs 5 crore prize money and a flat near the Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Sports Complex in Balewadi, Pune, and maintained the Haryana government gives much higher amounts for its Olympics medal-winning athletes.
Speaking to reporters in Kolhapur, Suresh Kusale claimed, “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 also claimed that his son should be valued more given he is the only second individual Olympic medalist from state after wrestler KD Jadhav in 1952.
“As per a new policy announced by the state 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 in 72 years?” he said.
Five individuals won medals in the Paris Olympics for India of which four were from Haryana and one, Swapnil Kusale, from Maharashtra.
He further asked, “Is this amount because he is from a humble background? Would the reward be the same if it was a son of a politician,” he asked.
He also asked to name the shooting arena in the Pune Balewadi Sports complex after Swapnil’s name along with a flat near the sports complex.
After his Paris feat, the ace marksman was promoted by his employer Central Railway, and appointed an officer on special duty.
The Maharashtra government recently announced doubling the prize money to players winning medals at major sports events, including the Olympics, World Championships, and Asian Games, among others.