Tributes Pour In for Legendary Shooter Jaspal Rana After His Passing

A Heartfelt Farewell to Jaspal Rana

Dehradun (Uttarakhand) [India], June 13: Manu Bhaker, a two-time Olympic medalist, was visibly emotional as she paid her final respects to her long-time coach, Padma Shri Jaspal Rana, who sadly passed away at the age of 49.

Rana succumbed to health issues in New Delhi on Friday, where he was receiving treatment at Max Hospital in Saket. His remains were transported to his home in Dehradun later that night.

Manu Bhaker, who was discovered and trained by Rana during his tenure as a junior national coach, honored her mentor, acknowledging his significant influence on her career, which included winning two bronze medals at the 2024 Paris Olympics.

As one of India's most celebrated shooters, Rana leaves behind an impressive legacy that spans over thirty years. He is recognized as India's most successful athlete in the Commonwealth Games, having amassed an incredible 15 medals—nine gold, four silver, and two bronze—across the 1994, 1998, 2002, and 2006 Games.

His accomplishments reached beyond the Commonwealth, with Rana earning four golds and one silver at the Asian Games, including a gold at the 1994 Hiroshima Games and a remarkable three golds at the 2006 Doha Asian Games.

At the 1994 World Shooting Championships in Milan, he achieved gold while setting a record score. He also matched the world record in the 25m Centre Fire Pistol event with a total score of 590 during the 2006 Asian Games.

Rana was known for his resilience, famously securing three gold medals in Doha while battling a high fever, a remarkable feat in Indian shooting history.

After retiring from competitive shooting, he dedicated his life to coaching and developing talent. As a junior national coach, he played a pivotal role in shaping the careers of future stars like Manu Bhaker and Saurabh Chaudhary.

Despite a public fallout with Bhaker prior to the Tokyo Olympics, the two reconciled, with Rana instrumental in her successful journey that led to two bronze medals at the Paris Olympics in 2024.

At the time of his passing, Rana was serving as India's high-performance coach for pistol events. His legacy as both a champion shooter and a mentor will continue to inspire future generations in Indian sports.