Shooter Chandro Tomar, nicknamed ‘Shooter Dadi’, passed away at the age of 89 due to Covid-19 on Friday. She had been admitted to a hospital in Meerut on April 26 after she had complained of difficulty breathing.
“Mera saath chhoot gaya, Chandro kaha chali gayi (She has left me, Chandro where have you gone?),” her sister-in-law Prakashi Tomar, who is also one of the oldest female sharp shooters, wrote on her Twitter page.
Hailing from the Baghpat village in Uttar Pradesh, Tomar was 60-plus when she picked up the gun for the first time but went on to win many national competitions for veterans, her feats ultimately inspiring the award-winning Bollywood movie ‘Saand ki Aankh’.
People from various walks of life, ranging from Union ministers to film actors, have condoled her death.
An epitome of gender equality & champion of women’s rights Smt Chandro Tomar, known as ‘Shooter Dadi’ by her fans & admirers is no more.
The courage with which she challenged patriarchy & took up shooting as a sport will inspire generations to come.
Condolences to her family. pic.twitter.com/mhvOaGjAZI
— Hardeep Singh Puri (@HardeepSPuri) April 30, 2021
Devastated by the news of Chandro Dadi’s demise. Feels like a part of me is gone. She made her own rules & paved the path for many girl to find their dream. Her legacy will live on in them. Condolences to the family. Am lucky I got to know and be her 🙏#ChandroTomar #ShooterDadi
— bhumi pednekar (@bhumipednekar) April 30, 2021
Unconsolable loss! Our beloved “Shooter Dadi” is no more! Chandro Tomar, the epitome of courage and determination for many ( Sand Ki Ankh fame ) breathed her last fighting Corona. May her undying spirit inspire 1000 of girls to take up sports from the remotest parts! 🙏🏼 pic.twitter.com/64paAQaJGR
— Joydeep Karmakar OLY (@Joydeep709) April 30, 2021
She took part in several competitions along with her sister Prakashi Tomar, also one of the oldest female sharp shooters in the world.
Once she got hooked on to the sport, there was no looking back as she went on to win medals at numerous competitions, all coming when Chandro was well into her 60s.
Shooter Dadi won many awards in senior citizen category including Stri Shakti Sanman presented by the President of India himself.
She had picked up a rifle by chance, after a younger member in the family expressed her interest in enrolling herself at a newly-built shooting range in their village.
(With PTI inputs)