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Key Points

Suma Shirur, a legendary Olympian and shooting coach, has been awarded the prestigious SJAM Lifetime Achievement Award 2025 at the Bombay Gymkhana. Her remarkable journey includes being the second Indian woman shooter to reach an Olympic final and guiding the Indian shooting team to success. Beyond her athletic achievements, Shirur has mentored over 200 national-level athletes through her Lakshya Shooting Club. The award recognizes her exceptional commitment to sports development and gender equity in shooting.

Key Points: Suma Shirur Wins SJAM Lifetime Achievement Award 2025

  • Suma Shirur recognized for outstanding Olympic and coaching achievements
  • Honored alongside shooting legends Deepali Deshpande and Anjali Bhagwat
  • Mentored over 200 national-level athletes through Lakshya Shooting Club
  • Celebrated for promoting gender equity in sports
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Suma Shirur honoured with SJAM Lifetime Achievement Award 2025

Olympian Suma Shirur honored for exceptional contributions to Indian shooting at prestigious Bombay Gymkhana ceremony

"This award serves as a meaningful encouragement in my continued efforts to contribute to the development and advancement of shooting sports in India - Suma Shirur"

Mumbai, July 3

In recognition of her outstanding contributions to Indian shooting, Olympian and former chief coach of the Indian Shooting team, Suma Shirur, was presented with the SJAM Lifetime Achievement Award 2025 by the Sports Journalists' Association of Mumbai.

The ceremony took place at the prestigious Bombay Gymkhana on the occasion of World Sports Journalists Day on Wednesday. Sharing the honour with her were long-time compatriots and fellow icons of Indian shooting, Deepali Deshpande and Anjali Bhagwat, as per a press release from SJAM.

The prestigious accolade celebrates Suma Shirur's exceptional commitment to the sport - from being the second Indian woman shooter to reach an Olympic final, to guiding the Indian shooting team to success at the Paris Olympics and Paralympics, her journey marked not just by medals and milestones, but by quiet, relentless and pursuit of excellence.

The SJAM Lifetime Achievement Award is one of the most cherished sports awards presented by the sports journalist community. In 2016, it was presented to cricketing legend Sunil Gavaskar, making Suma Shirur's recognition this year all the more special, as she joins a truly elite circle of sporting greats.

As Suma took the stage to accept the honour, in the presence of veteran journalists and fellow athletes, she expressed, "I extend my sincere gratitude to the Sports Journalists' Association of Mumbai for considering me for this prestigious award. It is truly an honour to receive it alongside my esteemed friends from the shooting fraternity. This award serves as a meaningful encouragement in my continued efforts to contribute to the development and advancement of shooting sports in India

Beyond her formidable coaching track record, Suma Shirur stands out as a committed advocate for gender equity and grassroots engagement in sports. Through the Lakshya Shooting Club, she has mentored over 200 national-level athletes, including Tokyo and Paris Paralympic gold medalist Avni Lekhara, junior world champion Parth, World Championship medalist Kiran Jadhav and Youth Olympic medalist Shahu Mane. In recognition of her outstanding contribution to Indian shooting and athlete development, she was honoured with the Best Coach of the Year (Female) award at the Indian Sports Honours 2024.

- ANI

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Reader Comments

S
Sarah B
As someone new to following shooting sports, I'm amazed by her journey. Mentoring 200+ athletes while breaking gender barriers - that's real leadership! More power to women coaches in sports.
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Ananya R
So happy to see shooting coaches getting recognition! We always celebrate players but forget the gurus behind them. Suma didi's Lakshya Club has produced so many champions. Hope this inspires more girls to take up sports seriously.
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Vikram M
While I appreciate her contributions, I wish media gave equal coverage to coaches from other sports too. Cricket coaches get limelight only when team loses, others barely get noticed. Still, congratulations to Suma ji!
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Kavya N
My daughter trains at Lakshya Club! Suma ma'am is so dedicated - comes at 5 AM, leaves last. She remembers every student's technique and progress. This award is well-deserved 👏 Hope government provides more support to such academies.
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Michael C
Interesting to see shooting sports gaining prominence in India. Suma's work with Paralympians like Avni Lekhara shows true inclusive sports development. The West could learn from such grassroots programs.
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Priya S
From Olympic finals to creating Olympians - what a journey! But why does it take so

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