Sunny Thomas, a pioneering figure in Indian shooting, passed away on Wednesday in Kottayam, Kerala, at the age of 83. He served as India’s national shooting coach from 1993 to 2012, a period widely regarded as the golden era of Indian shooting.
Under his leadership, Indian shooters achieved unprecedented success, securing medals at the Olympics, World Championships, Asian Games, and Commonwealth Games. Thomas played a vital role in shaping the careers of several top shooters, including Abhinav Bindra, Rajyavardhan Singh Rathore, Vijay Kumar, Gagan Narang, Jaspal Rana, and Samaresh Jung.
Beyond these star athletes, Thomas mentored numerous other shooters who excelled at the international level. During his tenure, India won a total of 108 gold, 74 silver, and 53 bronze medals in major international competitions. This included 29 medals at the Asian Games and a remarkable 95 medals at the Commonwealth Games.
In recognition of his exceptional contribution to sports coaching, Thomas was awarded the Dronacharya Award in 2001.
Before dedicating himself fully to coaching, Thomas was an English lecturer at St. Stephen’s College in Uzhavoor. A passionate shooter himself, he was a five-time Kerala state champion and won the national title in the rifle open sight event in 1976.
One of his major contributions as a coach was the integration of pistol, rifle, and shotgun coaching structures within the national team, streamlining training for greater efficiency. Even after stepping down as national coach, Thomas remained active in the sport, establishing a shooting range at the Idukki Rifle Association in Kottayam.
He is survived by his wife, Prof. K.J. Josamma, and their children, Manoj Sunny, Sanil Sunny, and Sonia Sunny.
