New Delhi: Indian shooting lost one of its greatest icons on Friday as former Asian Games champion, celebrated coach and mentor Jaspal Rana passed away at the age of 49. The National Rifle Association of India (NRAI) confirmed his death, triggering an outpouring of grief from across the sporting world and political leadership.
Rana, widely regarded as one of the architects of India’s rise in international shooting, reportedly suffered a sudden medical emergency shortly after returning from the ISSF World Cup in Munich. At the time of his death, he was serving as India’s high-performance pistol coach and remained actively involved in shaping the next generation of shooters.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi led the tributes, describing Rana’s passing as a “profound loss” to Indian sports. President Droupadi Murmu, Olympic champion Abhinav Bindra and several leading athletes also paid homage, remembering him as a champion, mentor and inspiration whose contribution to Indian shooting would never be forgotten.
Born in Uttarakhand, Rana emerged as a shooting prodigy in the 1990s and went on to become one of India’s most decorated shooters. He won multiple medals at the Asian Games, Commonwealth Games and World Championships. At the 2006 Asian Games in Doha, he equalled a world record while winning gold in the 25m Centre Fire Pistol event, cementing his place among the sport’s legends.
Beyond his achievements as an athlete, Rana earned immense respect as a coach. He played a crucial role in the careers of several elite shooters, most notably Olympic medallist Manu Bhaker. His coaching excellence was recognised with the Dronacharya Award in 2020, adding to earlier honours including the Arjuna Award and the Padma Shri.
With his passing, Indian sports has lost not only a champion marksman but also a mentor who helped transform shooting into one of the country’s most successful Olympic disciplines. His legacy will continue to inspire generations of athletes.
