Sonam Uttam Maskar On Family Support Ahead Of Asian Games 2026

Kolhapur shooter Sonam Uttam Maskar, 23, is set to represent India at the 20th Asian Games 2026 in Aichi-Nagoya, Japan. The 10m air rifle shooter will compete from September 17 to October 3 at the Aichi Prefectural General Shooting Gallery after a rise shaped by family support and sacrifice.

Sonam’s path to the Indian team was not planned. She first tried shooting in 2018 while studying at Tolani College of Commerce in Mumbai, after playing chess and other sports. She later turned to the sport as a career, but the pandemic slowed her early progress and brought money pressure at home.

As she began to train seriously, the cost of professional equipment became hard to meet. During the lockdown period, her father, Uttam Maruti Maskar, sold a property so she could buy the gear she needed. Sonam said the family made a big decision to support her shooting journey.

Key results and current preparation

After restarting her focus in 2021, Sonam trained at the Kolhapur shooting range and moved up quickly. Her best-known result is the silver medal at the 2024 ISSF World Cup Final in New Delhi. She also did well at the Cairo World Cup in 2024, which helped her earn a place with Railways.

Sonam is now training with foreign coach Farnik Thomas and Indian coaches in the team as she prepares for the Asian Games. She also thanked her family, sponsors, OGQ, the NRAI, SAI NCOE, Railways and her support staff for helping her grow as an athlete.