The former national coach of Indian shooting Sunny Thomas passed away at the age of 84 years. He died on Wednesday at his residence in Uzhavoor after suffering from a heart attack. Thomas dedicated 19 years to coaching the national shooting team between 1993 to 2012 and significantly advanced Indian shooting on the international stage. As an academic who taught at a university and a seasoned shooter Thomas earned five state championships and a national title in 1976. His coaching efforts produced multiple Indian Olympic medalists. As a tribute to his work Thomas received the prestigious Dronharya Award in 2001.
Sunny Thomas Impact On The Indian Shooting
The greatest achievement of Thomas's tenure in the Indian shooting was in Beijing when Abhinav Bindra achieved India's first solo gold medal win during the 10m male rifle competition. The biggest Olympic achievers from his tenure included silver medalist Vijay Kumar and the team of Jaspal Rana alongside Samaresh Jung and bronze medalist Gagan Narang. Doha held the 2006 Asian Games during Thomas's leadership where Rana earned three gold medals and this matching performance came from Jung in Melbourne at the 2006 Commonwealth games.
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Indian Shooter's Reaction On Sunny Thomas Death
"Deeply saddened to hear about the passing of Prof. Sunny Thomas. He was more than a coach, he was a mentor, guide, and father figure to generations of Indian shooters," Said Bindra on X platform
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