Indian shooting legend Jaspal Rana, one of the country’s most decorated pistol shooters and the coach behind Manu Bhaker’s historic Olympic success, passed away at a Delhi hospital on Thursday night following cardiac complications. He was 49.
Rana’s sudden demise has left India’s sporting fraternity in mourning, marking the loss of a champion athlete, respected mentor, and one of the most influential figures in Indian shooting.
According to National Rifle Association of India (NRAI) President Kalikesh Narayan Singh Deo, Rana died after complications related to a heart condition. Sources revealed that he had fallen ill while returning from the ISSF World Cup in Munich, Germany. Upon arriving in New Delhi, he was rushed to a hospital, where doctors performed a procedure to clear a cardiac blockage and implanted a stent. Although his condition initially appeared stable, it later worsened.
Rana is survived by his wife Reena Rana, daughter Devanshi, son Yuvraj, father Narayan Singh Rana, and siblings Sushma Singh and Subhash Rana.
Widely regarded as one of India’s greatest shooters, Rana began his remarkable journey at an early age, winning his first national gold medal at just 12 years old. His international breakthrough came in 1994 when he secured gold medals in the 25m pistol event at both the Commonwealth Games and the Asian Games.
His achievement at the Asian Games was historic, ending India’s 16-year wait for a shooting gold medal at the continental event.
Rana reached the peak of his competitive career at the 2006 Asian Games, where he won three gold medals and one silver medal while equalling the then world record.
Following his retirement from competitive shooting, he transitioned into coaching and became instrumental in shaping the future of Indian shooting. As a coach, he mentored several top shooters, including Manu Bhaker, Saurabh Chaudhary, Anish Bhanwala, and Chinki Yadav.
His most celebrated coaching achievement came at the Paris Olympics 2024, where Manu Bhaker won two bronze medals, becoming the first Indian athlete to secure two medals at a single Olympic Games edition.
Recognising his immense contribution to athlete development, the Government of India honoured Rana with the prestigious Dronacharya Award in 2020. In February 2025, he was appointed High-Performance Coach for the 25m pistol discipline by the NRAI.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi expressed deep sorrow over Rana’s passing, describing it as a major loss for Indian sports. In a post on X, Modi praised Rana’s achievements as both a shooter and mentor, highlighting his dedication, discipline, and service to the sporting community.
Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge also paid tribute, calling Rana a towering figure in Indian sports whose contributions helped elevate Indian shooting on the global stage.
With 15 Commonwealth Games medals, including nine gold medals, and countless contributions as a coach, Jaspal Rana leaves behind a lasting legacy that will continue to inspire generations of Indian athletes.
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