Sonam Uttam Maskar Credits Father's Sacrifice as She Gears Up for 2026 Asian Games

Indian 10m air rifle shooter Sonam Uttam Maskar has credited her family's unwavering support and her father's extraordinary sacrifice for helping her reach the international stage as she prepares to represent India at the 20th Asian Games 2026 in Aichi-Nagoya, Japan.

The 23-year-old shooter from Kolhapur will be part of the Indian shooting contingent for the continental event, with the shooting competitions scheduled from September 17 to October 3 at the Aichi Prefectural General Shooting Gallery.

Father Sold Property to Support Daughter's Dream

Behind Sonam's rise in international shooting is a story of resilience and family sacrifice. As she began taking the sport seriously, purchasing professional shooting equipment became a major financial challenge, particularly during the economic hardships that followed the COVID-19 pandemic.

To ensure his daughter could continue chasing her dream, Sonam's father, Uttam Maruti Maskar, made the difficult decision to sell a family property.

"There was a time when we were facing financial difficulties, especially around the lockdown period. When it became clear that I needed my own equipment to progress further in shooting, my father sold a property so that we could buy it. It was a big decision for our family, but they have always supported me," Sonam recalled.

A Hobby That Became a Career

Interestingly, shooting was never part of Sonam's original career plan. She first discovered the sport in 2018 while studying at Tolani College of Commerce in Mumbai.

"I was always interested in sports and I used to play chess as well. I thought I should try something different, so I initially took up shooting. I started shooting as a hobby, but it soon became something I wanted to build my career around," she said.

Although the COVID-19 pandemic temporarily disrupted her progress, Sonam resumed her training in earnest in 2021 at the Kolhapur shooting range, focusing on the 10m air rifle event.

World Cup Success Boosted Career

Sonam's progress on the international circuit has been impressive. One of the defining moments of her career came when she won the silver medal at the 2024 ISSF World Cup Final held in New Delhi.

"The World Cup Final medal in Delhi in 2024 is one of the most special moments of my career. Winning a silver medal in front of the home crowd was a very memorable experience for me," Sonam said.

Her performances, including a strong showing at the Cairo ISSF World Cup in 2024, also paved the way for her to represent the Railways.

Asian Games Now the Primary Focus

With the Asian Games fast approaching, Sonam is currently training under foreign coach Farnik Thomas alongside the Indian coaching staff as she fine-tunes her preparations for one of the biggest competitions of her career.

She also acknowledged the support she has received from her family, coaches and sporting institutions throughout her journey.

"I am extremely grateful to everyone who has supported me throughout this journey. My family has always stood by me, and I am also thankful to my sponsors, OGQ, the NRAI, SAI NCOE, Railways and my entire support staff for constantly supporting me and helping me grow as an athlete."

"The preparations for the Asian Games are going well. I am currently working with my foreign coach, Farnik Thomas, as well as my Indian coaches in the team, and the focus is on preparing in the best possible way for the competition," she concluded.

 

(Inputs from Press Release)