Renowned Indian shooter and high-performance pistol coach Jaspal Rana has passed away at the age of 49. According to National Rifle Association of India (NRAI) president Kalikesh Narayan Singh Deo, Rana breathed his last at a hospital in Delhi in the early hours of Friday. He had recently undergone a medical procedure after falling ill during the Indian contingentโs return journey from the ISSF World Cup in Munich, Germany.
Upon landing in New Delhi, Rana was immediately admitted to the hospital, where he underwent a procedure involving the placement of a stent after his condition deteriorated. In the meantime, Max Hospital in Saket has confirmed the development, where Rana was admitted.
โJaspal Rana, shooter and coach of Double Olympics medalist Manu Bhaker, passed away at Max Saket Hospital this morning,โ Max Hospital shared.ย
PM Modi expresses grief
Prime Minister Narendra Modi said he was deeply saddened by Rana’s demise, calling his death a “profound loss to the world of Indian sports.” In a post on X, he said his prayers are with Rana’s family, friends and the entire sporting fraternity in this hour of grief.
“He brought immense glory to the nation through his extraordinary achievements in shooting. Equally remarkable was his contribution as a mentor, shaping and guiding young athletes with great dedication. His unwavering commitment to excellence, discipline and service to the sporting world earned him immense admiration,” he said.
Ranaโs influence on modern shooting
Rana, a prominent figure in Indian shooting, has been closely associated with the development of Indiaโs pistol programme in recent years. As a coach, he played a key role in shaping the careers of several elite shooters, including double Olympic medalist Manu Bhaker and was serving as a high-performance coach with the national setup.
He was part of Manuโs coaching unit during the Paris Olympics in 2024, where the prior became the first Indian athlete to win two medals in a single edition of the Games.ย
Ranaโs journey to silverware
Born in 1976 in Uttarakhand, Rana achieved his first major milestone at the national level by winning a silver medal during his debut at the 31st National Shooting Championship held in Ahmedabad in 1988.
He went on to represent India in multiple international competitions and made a breakthrough early in his career by winning gold at the 1994 Asian Games in Hiroshima. Over the years, he became one of Indiaโs most decorated shooters, especially in the 25m pistol events and also earned medals at the Commonwealth Games and Asian Games across multiple editions. In theย 2002 Commonwealth Games at Manchester, he won six medals for India.ย
Beyond his competitive career, he transitioned into coaching and played a major role in developing Indiaโs modern pistol shooting ecosystem. He has worked closely with several elite athletes, helping guide them at the international level. His coaching methods and technical expertise have been credited with improving Indiaโs performance in ISSF events.
Rana has also received some of Indiaโs highest sporting honours, including the Arjuna Award in 1994 and Padma Shri in 1997 in recognition of his achievements as an athlete. Over time, he became a central figure in Indian shooting, respected for shaping younger generations of shooters and strengthening Indiaโs presence on the global stage.
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