The National Rifle Association of India (NRAI), on Friday, announced cash incentives for Paris Olympics 2024 medal-winning shooters Manu Bhaker, Swapnil Kusale and Sarabjot Singh during a felicitation ceremony in New Delhi.
Manu became the first Indian athlete since independence to win two medals in the same edition of the Olympics in Paris. She also became the first Indian woman shooter to win an Olympic medal.
Manu won a bronze medal in the women’s 10m air pistol event before winning another medal in partnership with Sarabjot in the 10m air pistol mixed team event.
Kusale won the bronze medal in the men’s 50m rifle 3 positions event.
The three medals helped India end their medal drought in shooting. Before the Paris Olympics, the last time Indian shooters won medals was at the London Olympics in 2012.
Manu received a cash reward of Rs 45 lakh for her double Olympic medal-winning performance, while Kusale and Sarabjot were awarded Rs 30 and Rs 15 lakh each, respectively.
The remaining members of the Indian shooting squad received mementoes.
The support staff of the Indian shooting contingent, including Dr. Pierre Beauchamp, High-Performance Director, Thomas Farnik, foreign rifle coach, Munkhbyar Dorjsuren, foreign pistol coach, Samresh Jung, national pistol coach 10m, and Manoj Kumar, national rifle coach 50m, were honoured with Rs 5 lakh each.
The felicitation ceremony was attended by the entire Indian shooting squad for the Paris Olympics.
Also present on the occasion were Olympic Council of Asia President Randhir Singh, NRAI chief Kalikesh Singh Deo and London Olympic medallists Vijay Kumar and Gagan Narang, who was also the Indian contingent’s chef-de-mission at the Paris Games.