A good performance at any level is hailed and comes into focus far more than the hard yards the family members put in to help the sportsperson reach a high level of competition. In a couple of months from now, India shooter Swapnil Kusale could well be glowing after a creditable performance at the July 26-August 11 Paris Olympics.

Training in France

Currently, 29-year-old Kusale, the 50m rifle 3-position shooter, is practising in France with the Indian team. His father Suresh, a headmaster at Vidya Mandir, Ghotawade, in Kolhapur district, told mid-day how he managed to help his son pursue his shooting ambition. “Shooting is a very costly sport. Weapons are expensive and I had to spend a major part of my salary on Swapnil’s shooting. I took a R25 lakh loan and sold two plots of land to manage his expenses,” said Suresh.