EXCLUSIVE: ‘I Want To Thank Vaibhav Agashe Sir For What He Has Done For Me’, Says Swapnil Kusale

New Delhi: Shooting is a very delicate sport. A difference of 0.1 could change a shooter’s fate of as a perfect blend of grip stability, postural balance, trigger control, accuracy and the ability to train your mind are considered to be decisive. Mental and psychological training are two of the most essential aspects of shooting as the sport demands precision and perseverance close to perfection in order to win medals at the Olympics or any other international events.

There are several athletes in shooting who take the meditation route to achieve calmness. For Swapnil Kusale, who won bronze in the men’s 50m rifle 3 positions event at the Paris Olympics 2024, mental trainer Vaibhav Agashe played a big role in the 29-year-old’s journey in the French capital.

A sports psychologist and a mental trainer, Agashe has worked with several Olympian athletes with an experience of over 11 years in the field. In fact, Agashe had also trained the likes of Gagan Narang and Vijay Kumar who won medals at the 2012 London Olympics.

“Mindset is an important aspect when it comes to shooting and I want to thank my mental trainer Vaibhav Agashe sir for what he has done for me,” Kusale told India.com in an exclusive interaction on the sidelines of NRAI’s felicitation event on Friday.

“He worked really hard for my mental training and the way he made me calm and protected my mental health. I am really happy that he moulded me such a way that I could perform there (in Paris),” added Kusale who was one of three Indian shooters to come home with a medal from Paris.

Following Manu Bhaker’s bronze at the Paris Olympics, the 22-year-old had spoken about chanting Bhagawad Gita scripts during her final in the women’s 10m air pistol event. Asked if Kusale does something similar, the Pune lad revealed, “I have different chantings, obviously hindu chantings of my own gods. My pattern is a little different. I distribute my life with my gods,” he added.

In India, after winning a medal at the Olympics, athletes do see a significant change in their lives. For Kusale, he is still the same as he used to be before Paris Olympics. “I am the same person personally, but people’s views have changed. I am the same person like I used to be before,” he said.

“I feel these are blessings to me and happy with all these things. Still have to do more and more training for the next Olympics,” added Kusale. Meanwhile, the National Rifle Association of India (NRAI) rewarded Bhaker, Kusale and Sarabjot Singh with cash prizes for their achievements at Paris Olympics.

Bhaker, who became the first Indian post Independence to win two medals in a single Olympic Games, was awarded Rs 45 lakh for her exploits in the French capital, Kusale was given Rs 30 lakh for winning a landmark individual bronze in the men’s 50m rifle 3 positions event, while Sarabjot got Rs 15 lakh for winning a bronze in the 10m air pistol mixed team along with Manu. The ceremony was attended by the entire Indian shooting squad for the Paris Olympics.