Prof. Sunny Thomas, the former coach of the Indian national shooting team and a recipient of the prestigious Dronacharya Award, passed away on Wednesday due to cardiac arrest at the age of 84. He breathed his last at his residence in Uzhavoor, Kottayam, Kerala.
Thomas served as India’s national shooting coach from 1993 to 2012, a pivotal period that saw the rise of Indian shooting on the global stage. His nearly two-decade-long coaching career was marked by numerous achievements, the most iconic being Abhinav Bindra’s historic gold medal in the men’s 10m air rifle event at the 2008 Beijing Olympics—India’s first-ever individual Olympic gold.
Paying tribute to his mentor, Bindra wrote on social media platform X:
“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.
His belief in our potential and his relentless dedication to the sport laid the foundation for India’s rise in international shooting. He played a big role in my early years, and I’ll always be grateful for his support and guidance. Rest in peace, sir. Your impact is everlasting.”
A five-time Kerala state-level champion and the 1976 national champion, Sunny Thomas began his professional life as an English lecturer at St. Stephen’s College, Uzhavoor, before his passion for shooting led him to the sport full-time.
Under his guidance, India witnessed significant milestones, including Rajyavardhan Singh Rathore’s silver medal in men’s double trap at the 2004 Athens Olympics, the country’s first Olympic medal in shooting. He also mentored future Olympic medalists like Vijay Kumar and Gagan Narang, along with top shooters such as Jaspal Rana and Samaresh Jung.
Sunny Thomas played a key role in streamlining India’s shooting infrastructure, helping unify the coaching frameworks for pistol, rifle, and shotgun disciplines, leading to improved performance at the Asian Games, Commonwealth Games, and other global competitions.
Post-retirement, he continued contributing to the sport by establishing a shooting range at the Idukki Rifle Association in Kottayam.
He is survived by his wife K.J. Josamma, sons Manoj and Sanil, and daughter Sonia.
(With ANI inputs)
