Indian shooting legend and Manu Bhaker’s coach Jaspal Rana dies at 49

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Jaspal Rana, the Asian Games gold medallist who later played a pivotal role in shaping India`s shooting future as a coach, died in New Delhi on Thursday night at the age of 49.  Kalikesh Narayan Singh Deo, President of the National Rifle Association of India (NRAI), confirmed the news, stating that the former shooting star passed away at a hospital following sudden health complications. 

The health crisis reportedly began during the Indian shooting team’s return journey from the ISSF World Cup held in Munich, Germany. After falling ill mid-flight and arriving in New Delhi, Rana was immediately admitted to a medical facility where he underwent a procedure to have a stent inserted. 

At the time of his passing, he was serving as the high-performance coach for India`s pistol shooters, a role he was officially appointed to in February 2025 to oversee the 25m pistol discipline.

His brother, Subash Rana, shared details regarding the final days of the coach’s life. “He experienced chest pain and discomfort during the ISSF World Cup in Munich, which he initially mistook for acidity, and continued with his travel plans. However, the discomfort returned during the journey back to India, prompting immediate medical attention upon his arrival in Delhi,” he told the media.

Rana won multiple medals for India

Jaspal Rana was a decorated athlete with numerous international titles. He later turned to coaching, with his most high-profile success coming at the Paris 2024 Olympics, where he famously guided Manu Bhaker to her historic double-bronze-medal victory.

Since stepping into the junior coaching role in 2012, Rana was instrumental in the rise of stars like Saurabh Chaudhary, Anish Bhanwala, and Chinki Yadav. In 2020, the Indian government recognised his immense contribution to talent development by honouring him with the Dronacharya Award.

Born on June 28, 1976, in Uttarakhand, Rana’s rise began in 1994 when he secured a junior gold medal at the World Shooting Championships in Milan with a world-record performance. That same year, he won the gold at the Asian Games, marking the start of a decade of dominance.

He remains the most prolific Indian shooter in Commonwealth Games history, with a tally of 15 medals, including nine golds. For his early excellence, he was awarded the Arjuna Award at just 18 years old, followed by the Padma Shri three years later, securing his status as one of the greatest sporting figures in Indian history.

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