Former India shooter and celebrated coach Jaspal Rana passed away in New Delhi on Friday following health complications. He was admitted to Max Hospital in Saket, South Delhi, where he breathed his last, hospital officials confirmed. Rana had reportedly fallen ill while returning from the ISSF World Cup in Munich on Thursday and later underwent a medical procedure in Delhi.
His death marks a huge loss for Indian shooting, a sport he transformed both as a champion athlete and as a mentor. Rana was the coach behind Manu Bhaker’s historic Paris Olympics 2024 campaign, where she became the first Indian athlete to win two medals at a single Olympic Games.
One of India’s most decorated shooters, Rana leaves behind a legacy spanning more than three decades. He remains India’s most successful Commonwealth Games athlete, having won an incredible 15 medals — nine gold, four silver, and two bronze — across the 1994, 1998, 2002, and 2006 editions of the Games.
His achievements extended far beyond the Commonwealth stage. Rana won four gold medals and one silver at the Asian Games, including a gold medal at the 1994 Hiroshima Asian Games and a remarkable haul of three gold medals at the 2006 Doha Asian Games.
At the 1994 World Shooting Championships in Milan, he clinched gold while setting a championship record. He also equalled the world record in the 25m Centre Fire Pistol event with an aggregate score of 590 during the 2006 Asian Games.
Known for his grit and determination, Rana famously won three gold medals in Doha despite competing with a high fever, a feat that remains one of the most iconic performances in Indian shooting history.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi expressed his condolences following Rana’s passing.
“Deeply saddened by the passing of Shri Jaspal Rana Ji. His passing is a profound loss to the world of Indian sports,” the Prime Minister wrote.
After retiring from competitive shooting, Rana dedicated himself to coaching and talent development. As a junior national coach, he played a pivotal role in nurturing several future stars, including Manu Bhaker and Saurabh Chaudhary.
Despite a well-publicised fallout with Bhaker before the Tokyo Olympics, the duo later reunited, with Rana guiding her to a successful Paris Olympics campaign that resulted in two bronze medals in 2024.
At the time of his passing, Rana was serving as India’s High-Performance Coach for pistol events. His contributions as both a champion shooter and an inspirational mentor have left an enduring impact on Indian sport.
