New Delhi: Prof. Sunny Thomas, a former shooting coach for India, passed away on Wednesday in Uzhavoor, Kerala. He was 83 years old. Prof. Thomas was not just a coach; he was a teacher and a father figure to many young shooters, including Olympic champion Abhinav Bindra and pistol star Jaspal Rana.
Prof. Thomas, who was an English professor before becoming a coach, worked as the national shooting coach for 19 years starting in 1993. Under his guidance, India saw the rise of talented young shooters like Bindra, who won India’s first individual Olympic gold medal in 2008 in the 10m air rifle event. Jaspal Rana also achieved great success, winning many medals at the Asian and Commonwealth Games.
During Prof. Thomas’s time, Rajyavardhan Singh Rathore brought home a silver medal in double trap shooting at the 2004 Athens Olympics, marking India’s first Olympic medal in shooting. Bindra shared his sadness about Prof. Thomas’s passing on social media, saying, “He was more than a coach; he was a mentor and a father figure. I will always be grateful for his support.”
Jaspal Rana also expressed his feelings on social media, saying, “It pains me to hear my Guru Sunny Thomas has passed away. He was like a father to me.”
Kalikesh Singh Deo, the president of the National Rifle Association of India (NRAI), mentioned that the shooting community is sad and that Prof. Thomas made a huge difference in Indian shooting. “India would not be a shooting power today without his help,” he said.
Deepali Deshpande, a former shooter, noted how important Prof. Thomas was in building the sport of shooting in India.
He is survived by his wife, two sons, and a daughter
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