Father’s sacrifices help shooter win Asian Games silver
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In Kolhapur, India, Uttam Maruti Maskar sold his land and shop to support his daughter, Sonam Maskar, in pursuing her dream of becoming a competitive shooter.
When the pandemic impacted his milk business in Mumbai, Uttam returned to his hometown with limited resources. Sonam needed equipment for shooting, which was expensive, so Uttam used his assets to fund her training.
Sonam trained at Vedh Rifle and Pistol Shooting Academy, initially using their equipment before receiving her own rifle and kit in 2022. She steadily improved, achieving seventh place at the ISSF Junior World Championships in 2023 and winning silver medals at ISSF World Cups in Cairo and Delhi the following year. Her coach, Rohit Hawaldar, focused on improving her posture and physical strength, increasing her daily practice to 90-120 shots.
On Sunday, Sonam contributed to India’s silver medal in the women’s 10m air rifle team event at the Asian Games, scoring 634.1 in qualification. While she finished sixth in the individual competition, her father reflected on the hardships they overcame to reach this point, viewing his sacrifices not as burdens but as his responsibility to his family and daughter. Sonam continues to enjoy chess, a game she played with her siblings, and often revisits past matches in her memory.
