Father of Swapnil Kusale demands ₹5 crore and flat in Pune
- Suresh Kusale demanded ₹5 crore and a flat for his son, bronze medalist Swapnil Kusale, after the Maharashtra government awarded only ₹2 crore.
- He highlighted the disparity in prize money between Maharashtra and Haryana, where athletes receive significantly higher amounts.
- Suresh questioned the criteria for awarding prizes, suggesting that his son's humble background may have influenced the lower reward.
In India, Suresh Kusale, the father of Swapnil Kusale, a bronze medalist in shooting at the Paris 2024 Olympics, expressed his dissatisfaction with the Maharashtra government's prize money allocation. He stated that his son should receive ₹5 crore and a flat near the Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Sports Complex in Pune, where he trains. Suresh highlighted the disparity in rewards between Maharashtra and Haryana, which offers significantly higher amounts to its Olympic medalists. He pointed out that Haryana provides ₹6 crore for gold, ₹4 crore for silver, and ₹2.5 crore for bronze, while Maharashtra only awards ₹2 crore for a bronze medal. Suresh questioned the rationale behind the lower prize money, especially considering that Swapnil is only the second individual Olympic medalist from Maharashtra in 72 years. He expressed concern that the amount might be influenced by their humble background and suggested that had Swapnil been from a more privileged family, the reward might have been different. Suresh's comments reflect a broader issue regarding the recognition and support for athletes from different states in India, particularly in terms of financial incentives and facilities for training.