An entire era of Indian shooting has come to a close. Jaspal Rana, the celebrated coach and former Olympian who put the sport on the world map, is no more. Renowned across the globe for his unerring marksmanship, Rana's passing has shaken the sporting fraternity to its core. The blow has been so sudden and so deep that a wave of grief has swept across the country, and especially among sports lovers, leaving everyone struggling to absorb the news.
A Sea of Grief in Dehradun
His mortal remains have been brought to Dehradun, the capital of his home state Uttarakhand. The moment his body arrived, an eerie silence descended over the area. A steady stream of sporting personalities, local leaders and admirers has been arriving at his residence to pay their last respects. The atmosphere is heavy with sorrow, and there is barely a dry eye in sight.
Manu Bhaker Crumbles at the Sight of Her Mentor
In this moment of grief, his most beloved and star disciple, Manu Bhaker, was already present in Dehradun. When she saw the lifeless body of her guru, guide and father-figure coach lying before her, she could not hold herself together and wept uncontrollably. Watching Manu break down this way moved everyone present to tears.
The bond between Manu and Jaspal Rana went far beyond that of an athlete and a coach. Through every high and low of her career, Rana stood by her like an unshakeable rock. When her form dipped or when she felt mentally fragile, it was he who steadied her and inspired her to become a champion all over again. For Manu, this loss is deeply personal and irreplaceable.
The Script Written Behind the Scenes
The history Manu Bhaker has scripted on the international stage in recent years was, in truth, authored by Jaspal Rana. Working quietly behind the scenes, he refined her technique, hardened her mental resolve and prepared her for the world's biggest arena—all of it the fruit of his relentless hard work. Whatever heights Manu has reached today owe a great deal to this coach.
Last Rites in Kashi on Saturday
In keeping with the family's decision, the final rites of this great shooter and coach will be performed on Saturday in the holy city of Varanasi (Kashi). Preparations are under way to carry his body from Dehradun to Varanasi, where his cremation will be conducted on the banks of the river Ganga, in accordance with Vedic rituals.
Varanasi is regarded as the city of salvation. Jaspal Rana's spiritual leanings and his family's profound reverence for this sacred land are the very reasons Kashi was chosen for the last rites. It is in this city of Baba Vishwanath that this sporting hero will be given a final farewell on Saturday, with many stalwarts of the sporting world expected to gather.
After paying tribute in Dehradun, there is growing expectation that Manu Bhaker may also travel to Varanasi to bid her guru a final goodbye. Plunged into deep shock at present, Manu wishes to be part of her mentor's final journey and offer him the honour that this guru-pupil pairing has always deserved.
The End of a Golden Era
It would be no exaggeration to call Jaspal Rana the 'Dronacharya' of Indian shooting. He shaped not only Manu Bhaker but several of the country's young marksmen, moulding them into athletes capable of winning medals at the international level. His departure marks the end of a golden chapter in Indian shooting, one that may not be filled for many decades to come.
Though Jaspal Rana may have physically bid farewell to this world, his name will remain etched in gold in the annals of Indian sport. Each time the athletes he nurtured win a medal for the country, his lessons and his technique will be remembered. Manu Bhaker's tears have proved that a true guru is placed even above God.
