Dronacharya awardee Sunny Thomas, Olympic champion Abhinav Bindra's coach, passes away

KOTTAYAM: Dronacharya awardeee Sunny Thomas, the veteran shooting instructor for the Indian team for over 19 years, passed away on Wednesday. He was 85. Sunny Thomas breathed his last in Uzhavoor, Kottayam today. It was under the aegis of Sunny Thomas, that India won gold and silver medals in various Olympics.

Sunny Thomas was born on September 26, 1941, to KK Thomas and Maryakutty in Thidanad, Kottayam. He was educated at CMS College, Kottayam. Sunny Thomas started as an English teacher at St. Stephen's, Uzhavoor and later had a stint at Sacred Heart College, in the same designation.

Rajyavardhan Singh Rathore’s silver medal at the 2004 Athens Olympics and Abhinav Bindra’s historic gold medal at the 2008 Beijing Olympics, came during Sunny Thomas’ coaching tenure. Sunny Thomas also played a vital role in helping Vijayakumar win silver and Gagan Narang bronze at the 2012 London Olympics.