Olympic medallist Swapnil Kusale's father unhappy with 2-crore prize money, demands 5-crore and a flat

Paris Olympics bronze medallist Swapnil Kusale's father has expressed disappointment over the Rs 2 crore prize money announced by the Maharashtra government, stating that Haryana gives much higher amount to the Olympic medallists from their state. Swapnil had a won a bronze medal in the men's 50 m rifle 3 positions at the Olympics. He hails from Kolhapur, Maharashtra. Suresh Kusale on Monday said his son should get Rs 5 crore prize money and a flat near the Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Sports Complex in Balewadi, Pune while speaking to reporters in Kolhapur.

"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)," he was quoted as saying by PTI.

"As per a new policy announced by the Maharashtra 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 (after wrestler K D Jadhav in 1952) in 72 years?" he asked.

India won six medals at the Paris Olympics, out of which five were individuals. Out of the five individual medallists, four were from Haryana and one from Maharashtra. Comparing the difference in the prize money in the two states, Suresh Kusale said despite Haryana being a much smaller state compared to Maharashtra it gives higher prize money to its medal winning athletes.