Former India Shooter and Coach Pournima Zanane Passes away due to cancer

Former Indian rifle shooter turned coach Pournima Zanane has died aged 42 years after battling cancer from the last two years. The ISSF-licensed coach has left India’s shooting fraternity in a state of shock as they mourned her death. Olympic Champion Abhinav Bindra and ex-India rifleman Joydeep Karmakar also expressed their grief on her demise. 

Deeply shocked and distressed by the news of untimely demise of an old friend Pournima Zanane. She was an international shooter and ISSF coach. Our friendship goes back to Junior team days.. But we will meet someday, somewhere again 😊 pic.twitter.com/nRRNLZsRny

— Joydeep Karmakar OLY (@Joydeep709) June 21, 2020

Cancer-stricken Zanane was going through a very tough time as she underwent extensive treatment for the recovery. The 42-year-old had represented India at multiple ISSF World Cups, Asian Championships, Commonwealth Championships etc. 

Zanane was a national record holder in 10m air rifle event, setting herself as a perfect example for the aspiring young female shooters in the country. Later she took the job of the coach and she was also conferred with the prestigious Shiv Chhatrapati Sports award by the government of Maharashtra. 

Zanane was born in Nanded but shifted to Pune after establishing her career as a shooter in Mumbai. Pournima was doing well in her career until she was diagnosed with cancer during the Nationals in Kerala two years ago.

“The National Rifle Association of India condoles the untimely sad demise of our international shooter and a coach – Ms Pournima Chinmoy Zanane, at a very young age. Ms Pournima Zanane was an air rifle shooter and took part in many international competitions as Pournima Gawahne. At a later stage, she started coaching shooters and also coached the Sri Lankan team,”

As National Rifle Association of India released a statement on her demise. 

Abhinav Bindra, 2008 Beijing Olympics champion also mourned the death of Pournima as he said,

“RIP Pournima. You will be greatly missed,”. 

RIP Pournima. You will be greatly missed.

— Abhinav A. Bindra OLY (@Abhinav_Bindra) June 21, 2020

After retiring in 2012, Pournima had taken up coaching as she started assisting the six-time Austrian world champion Farnik Thomas in 2014. Her coaching career had been as bright as her career as a shooter.