On the verge of history, heartbreak for Kusale

The noise sounded like a crashing wave. The Chinese fans, rattled by some exemplary shooting from Swapnil Suresh Kusale, roared for him to flounder. His eight years of international experience and countless routines behind him, Kusale stood ramrod straight under the spotlight. Fifty metres away waited the perfect tease-the concentric rings that define his sport and the innermost dot that shooters work so hard to hit.

- SHANTANU SRIVASTAVA

Kusale didn't need a 10.9. Moments ago, he had shot a jaw-dropping prone series that had pushed him to the gold medal position. No Indian had ever been there. Gagan Narang, an Asiad bronze medallist in 50m 3P, sat among the VIPs, his camera ready to capture the moment.

Kusale had no business to fail, and yet when he pulled the trigger, a gasp of disbelief escaped from those present. The electronic scoreboard read 7.6. You rub your eyes and look again. It's still 7.6.

Those in the Indian camp sank into their seats. Hands on head, eyes wide, mouth agape. They might as well have seen a ghost.

Kusale stood motionless in Lane 2, but you could sense his heart break. The ignominy of a 7, the pain of squandering the chance of making history, the curse of the big final; you know he felt because, sitting in the arena, you felt it too.