Jaspal Rana, a towering figure of Indian shooting and a celebrated coach, breathed his last on Friday at the age of 49. Earlier this week his health had suddenly deteriorated, which led to his admission to hospital. Serving as a high-performance coach for India's pistol shooters, Rana had begun feeling uneasy and restless while travelling back home from the ISSF World Cup held in Munich, Germany. Soon after reaching Delhi he was admitted to Max Hospital in Saket, where he was undergoing treatment. On 12 June, the National Rifle Association of India (NRAI) officially confirmed his passing. The tragic news triggered a wave of grief across the entire sporting world.
A Career Adorned With Asian and Commonwealth Games Medals
Counted among the country's most distinguished pistol shooters, Jaspal Rana carved out a unique identity on the international stage during the 1990s. He won numerous medals at the Asian Games, the Commonwealth Games and the Asian Championship, bringing pride to the nation. At a time when a sport like shooting had yet to gain much popularity in India, Rana established a special place for himself in the shooting world through his outstanding performances. His journey and remarkable achievements inspired the country's youth to take up shooting as a career.
He Had Coached Star Shooter Manu Bhaker
After bidding farewell to competitive sport, Rana stepped into the world of coaching and quickly grew into one of the most influential coaches in Indian shooting. In 2012 he became part of the national coaching system and took charge of the junior pistol programme. For roughly the next decade he devoted himself to nurturing emerging talent at the grassroots level. Under his guidance, exceptional marksmen such as Saurabh Chaudhary, Anish Bhanwala and Chinki Yadav came through, going on to fly India's flag high at the world level. The most memorable and historic chapter of his coaching remained the one associated with star shooter Manu Bhaker. Rana shaped Manu at a crucial turning point in her career, after which Manu Bhaker created history by winning bronze medals in the women's 10m air pistol and the mixed team event at the Paris Olympics 2024.
