Uttarakhand CM Pays Tribute to Legendary Shooter Jaspal Rana

A Heartfelt Farewell to Jaspal Rana

Dehradun (Uttarakhand) [India], June 12: Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami visited the home of renowned pistol shooter and national coach Jaspal Rana in Dehradun to pay his final respects.

Rana passed away at the age of 49 at Max Hospital in Delhi earlier on Friday. His body was brought back to his residence in Pondha, Dehradun.

During his visit, CM Dhami offered floral tributes and expressed his condolences to Rana's family, standing in solidarity with them during this challenging time.

Speaking to the media, CM Dhami conveyed his sorrow over Rana's death, highlighting the pride and medals he brought to India as both a shooter and coach. He described the loss as profound, noting his personal connection with Rana and the void left by the passing of a friend.

“His dedication to sports and coaching has earned India numerous medals. This is a significant loss for all of us. I pray for his soul's peace and for strength for his family and fans,” CM Dhami stated.

Rana was instrumental in establishing a shooting range in Pondha, which serves as a training hub for aspiring shooters and sports enthusiasts.

As one of India's most celebrated shooters, Rana's legacy spans over three decades. He holds the record as India's most successful Commonwealth Games athlete, with an impressive tally of 15 medals—nine gold, four silver, and two bronze—across the 1994, 1998, 2002, and 2006 Games.

His accolades also include four gold medals and one silver from the Asian Games, notably a gold at the 1994 Hiroshima Games and a remarkable three golds at the 2006 Doha Games.

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

Rana's determination was evident when he won three gold medals in Doha while battling a high fever, a remarkable feat in Indian shooting history.

After retiring from competitive shooting, Rana focused on coaching and talent development, mentoring future stars like Manu Bhaker and Saurabh Chaudhary.

Despite a public fallout with Bhaker before the Tokyo Olympics, they reconciled, with Rana playing a crucial role in her successful campaign 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, leaving a lasting impact on Indian sports through his dual roles as a champion shooter and mentor.