Tribute to Jaspal Rana: A Shooting Legend and Coach

Jaspal Rana Passes Away at 49

New Delhi: Jaspal Rana, a prominent figure in Indian shooting and the mentor of renowned shooter Manu Bhaker, has sadly passed away at the age of 49. His death was attributed to a heart attack.

Rana, who held the position of high-performance coach for India's pistol shooting team, reportedly began feeling unwell while returning from the ISSF World Cup held in Munich. Upon his arrival in New Delhi, he was immediately taken to Max Hospital in Saket for urgent medical attention.

During his treatment, medical professionals discovered that Rana had experienced a mild heart attack and subsequently placed a stent. They had scheduled another procedure to insert an additional stent in the following days. Initially, his condition appeared stable and he was on the mend, but he unexpectedly passed away today.

The Mentor of Manu Bhaker

In recent years, Jaspal Rana gained significant recognition as the coach of Manu Bhaker. Under his expert guidance, Bhaker made history by securing bronze medals in both the 10-meter air pistol and the 10-meter mixed pistol events, becoming the first Indian athlete to achieve two medals in a single Olympic Games since independence.

Jaspal Rana, shooter and coach of Double Olympics medalist Manu Bhaker, passed away at Max Saket Hospital this morning: Max Hospital (file pic) pic.twitter.com/BDMbKXh8CK

In addition to mentoring Bhaker, Rana collaborated closely with other elite pistol shooters, including Saurabh Chaudhary, Anish Bhanwala, and Chinki Yadav. His involvement with the junior shooting program led to a remarkable collection of medals for India's young talents in international competitions.

Jaspal Rana: A Shooting Icon

Before establishing himself as a legendary coach, Jaspal Rana was celebrated as one of India's finest pistol shooters. Born on June 28, 1976, in Uttarakhand, he made his international debut in 1994. At the World Shooting Championship in Milan, he clinched gold in the junior category with a world record score. That same year, he also triumphed in the 25-meter center-fire pistol event at the Asian Games.

Rana's illustrious career saw him become one of India's most decorated shooters, earning medals at the Asian Games, Commonwealth Games, and Asian Championships. He holds the record as India's most successful shooter in the Commonwealth Games, with a total of 15 medals, including nine golds. His standout performance occurred at the 2006 Doha Asian Games, where he won three gold medals and equaled the world record in the 25-meter center-fire pistol event. Rana was honored with the Arjuna Award at just 18 years old and received the Padma Shri three years later.