Awarded the SJAM Lifetime Achievement Prize 2025 to Suma Shirur
**Suma Shirur Receives SJAM Lifetime Achievement Award for Outstanding Contributions to Indian Shooting**
Suma Shirur, a renowned Indian shooter and former chief coach of the Indian Shooting team, was honoured with the SJAM Lifetime Achievement Award in 2025 by the Sports Journalists' Association of Mumbai. The ceremony took place at the Bombay Gymkhana on World Sports Journalists Day.
Shirur shared the honour with fellow icons of Indian shooting, Deepali Deshpande and Anjali Bhagwat. The award recognises Shirur's exceptional commitment to the sport, including reaching an Olympic final and guiding the Indian shooting team to success at the Paris Olympics and Paralympics.
Through her coaching work at the Lakshya Shooting Club, Shirur has mentored over 200 national-level athletes. Among her mentees are Kiran Jadhav, a World Championship medalist, Avni Lekhara, a Tokyo and Paris Paralympic gold medalist, Shahu Mane, a Youth Olympic medalist, and Parth, a junior world champion.
Shirur's career in shooting is marked by her Olympic appearances and her role as a coach. She has represented India in the Olympics, showcasing her skill and prowess on the international stage. As the chief coach of the Indian Shooting team, she has played a crucial role in developing the next generation of Indian shooters.
Shirur's contributions to Indian shooting and athlete development are widely recognised. In addition to the SJAM Lifetime Achievement Award, she was also honoured with the Best Coach of the Year (Female) award at the Indian Sports Honours 2024.
Moreover, Shirur is a committed advocate for gender equity and grassroots engagement in sports. Her enduring impact on Indian sports, particularly in the field of shooting, is evident through her coaching role and the success of her mentees.
Shirur expressed her gratitude for receiving the award, considering it a meaningful encouragement in her continued efforts to contribute to the development and advancement of shooting sports in India. The SJAM Lifetime Achievement Award is one of the most cherished sports awards presented by the sports journalist community, making it a fitting recognition for Shirur's outstanding contributions to Indian sports.
In the context of Suma Shirur's career and the SJAM Lifetime Achievement Award she received, it's evident that her contribution extends beyond shooting sports as she also advocates for gender equity and grassroots sports participation. As a sports journalist, it's important to highlight her opinion that more should be done to promote these aspects in sports reporting. Meanwhile, fellow sports enthusiasts may share the opinion that Shirur's impact on Indian sports, particularly in shooting, is unparalleled.
