Renowned Shooter Jaspal Rana Passes Away: End of golden era of Indian shooting
Internationally acclaimed shooter Jaspal Rana has passed away at the age of 49. Apart from being a renowned shooter, he was also the coach of India's Olympic medalist Manu Bhaker.
He was admitted to Max Hospital, Saket, in Delhi. Kalikesh Narayan Singh Deo, President of the National Rifle Association of India (NRAI), confirmed his passing.
Jaspal had fallen ill on his flight back from Munich on the night of June 1st and received medical assistance during the journey. Upon arriving in Delhi, he was admitted to Max Hospital, Saket. Following medical tests, a stent was inserted into his heart.
Rana was the coach of Manu Bhaker, who won two medals at the Paris Olympics. He served as a junior team coach and a high-performance trainer. He was appointed as India's high-performance coach for the 25m pistol event, effective February 2025.
Abhinav Bindra expressed his grief
Abhinav Bindra, who won India's first-ever Olympic gold medal in shooting at the 2008 Games, has expressed his grief over the passing of Jaspal Rana. Writing on the social platform X, he stated, "Saddened to hear the news of Jaspal's passing. He was a teammate and a key member of the generation that took Indian shooting to new heights."
"He was an immensely talented and passionate athlete who carried the nation's pride with him every time he stepped onto the range. His loss is a major blow to the Indian sports fraternity, especially the shooting community. My heartfelt condolences go out to his family, friends, disciples, and all those whose lives he touched and inspired."
Rana won eight medals at the Asian Games, 15 at the Commonwealth Games
As an athlete, Jaspal Rana won eight medals at the Asian Games, comprising four gold, two silver, and two bronze medals. He also won 15 medals at the Commonwealth Games, including nine gold, four silver, and two bronze medals.
Jaspal Rana made his mark in the sport of shooting by winning a gold medal at an international junior competition in 1994, and he never looked back after that.
Expressing his condolences on the social media platform X, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh wrote, "I am shocked and saddened by the sudden demise of Jaspal Rana. He was not only an outstanding athlete and coach but also an extremely down-to-earth, simple, and kind-hearted person. He played a significant role in popularizing shooting as a sport in India."
He added, "Jaspal Rana brought glory to India on the global stage by winning gold medals at the World Shooting Championships and the Asian Games. His passing is a major loss to the Indian sports fraternity."