Indian shooting legend and celebrated coach Jaspal Rana passed away on Friday at the age of 49 after suffering a medical emergency earlier this week.
Rana, who was serving as the High-Performance Coach for India's pistol shooters, reportedly felt discomfort while returning to India from the ISSF World Cup in Munich. After landing in New Delhi, he was admitted to Max Hospital in Saket, where he underwent treatment. The National Rifle Association of India (NRAI) later confirmed his demise.
His death comes as a massive blow to Indian shooting, a sport to which he dedicated more than three decades as both a champion athlete and a coach.
One of India's most decorated pistol shooters, Rana rose to prominence in the 1990s and established himself as a dominant force in international competition. He won multiple medals at the Asian Games, Commonwealth Games and Asian Championships, becoming one of the country's most successful shooters.
Rana represented India with distinction for several years and played a key role in popularising shooting at a time when the sport was still developing in the country. His achievements on the range earned him widespread recognition and inspired a generation of young shooters to take up the sport.
After bringing down the curtain on his competitive career, Rana moved into coaching and soon became one of the most influential figures in Indian shooting.
He joined the national coaching setup and took charge of the junior pistol programme in 2012. Over the next decade, he helped develop a strong pipeline of talent, working closely with several shooters who would go on to make their mark on the international stage.
Among the prominent names groomed under his guidance were Saurabh Chaudhary, Anish Bhanwala and Chinki Yadav. His contribution to the junior programme was widely acknowledged as India continued to produce world-class pistol shooters year after year.
Rana was known for his meticulous planning, technical expertise and ability to prepare shooters for high-pressure situations. His training methods focused heavily on replicating competition conditions, allowing athletes to adapt to the demands of major international events.
One of the defining chapters of his coaching career was his association with Manu Bhaker. Rana played a crucial role in Bhaker's preparations and development during a key phase of her career. Bhaker went on to create history at the Paris Olympics in 2024, winning bronze medals in the women's 10m air pistol and the mixed team 10m air pistol events.
In recognition of his contribution to the sport, the NRAI appointed Rana as the High-Performance Coach for the 25m pistol discipline in February 2025. He remained actively involved with the national shooting programme and continued to work with India's leading pistol shooters until his death.
For his contribution to coaching and athlete development, Rana was conferred with the Dronacharya Award in 2020, one of the highest honours in Indian sport.
Source: India Today
