Tributes pour in as shooting icon Jaspal Rana passes away at 49

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Tributes poured in from across the country after India`s shooting legend Jaspal Rana passed away on Thursday night at the age of 49. The former Asian Games and Commonwealth Games gold medallist was regarded as one of India`s greatest-ever shooters. 

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.

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.

Throughout his glorious career, Rana won 15 Commonwealth titles, including nine gold medals. He was awarded the Arjuna Award at just 18 years old, followed by the Padma Shri three years later.

Tributes flow in for Jaspal Rana

Indian Olympic gold medalist Abhinav Bindra shared a tribute on social media, hailing him as a pioneer who helped build modern Indian shooting.

Heartbroken to hear about Jaspal Rana’s passing.

Jaspal was my teammate, and in many ways, part of a generation that helped shape Indian shooting. He was intense, gifted, and carried the pride of the country every time he stepped onto the range.

This is a huge loss for our…

— Abhinav A. Bindra OLY (@Abhinav_Bindra) June 12, 2026

“Heartbroken to hear about Jaspal Rana’s passing. Jaspal was my teammate, and in many ways, part of a generation that helped shape Indian shooting. He was intense, gifted, and carried the pride of the country every time he stepped onto the range.” Bindra tweeted.

PM Narendra Modi too offered his condolences towards the former Indian shooting icon. PM Modi described Rana`s death as a major blow to Indian sports.

“Deeply saddened by the passing of Shri Jaspal Rana Ji. His passing is a profound loss to the world of Indian sports. He brought immense glory to the nation through his extraordinary achievements in shooting. Equally remarkable was his contribution as a mentor, shaping and guiding young athletes with great dedication. His unwavering commitment to excellence, discipline and service to the sporting world earned him immense admiration. My thoughts are with his family, friends and the entire sporting fraternity in this hour of grief. Om Shanti.” PM Modi said.

Deeply saddened by the passing of Shri Jaspal Rana Ji. His passing is a profound loss to the world of Indian sports.

He brought immense glory to the nation through his extraordinary achievements in shooting. Equally remarkable was his contribution as a mentor, shaping and…

— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) June 12, 2026

Defence Minister Rajnath Singh praised Rana`s contribution towards Indian sports and his impact on the younger generation.

अंतर्राष्ट्रीय ख्याति प्राप्त शूटर जसपाल राणा के आकस्मिक निधन से मैं स्तब्ध और शोकाकुल हूँ। जसपाल एक उत्कृष्ट खिलाड़ी और कोच होने के साथ-साथ अत्यंत सहज, सरल और बहुत ही नेकदिल इंसान थे। भारत में शूटिंग को एक खेल के रूप में लोकप्रिय बनाने में उनकी बड़ी प्रभावी भूमिका थी।

जसपाल… pic.twitter.com/ZwCCJOFkPt

— Rajnath Singh (@rajnathsingh) June 12, 2026

“I am stunned and grief-stricken by the sudden demise of the internationally renowned shooter Jaspal Rana. Jaspal was not only an exceptional athlete and coach but also an extremely affable, simple, and very kind-hearted person. He played a highly influential role in popularising shooting as a sport in India.” Rajnath Singh shared on his social media.

Former Indian cricketer Shikhar Dhawan hailed Rana as an `inspiration` and thanked him for his contribution towards Indian sports.

“A champion, a coach and an inspiration to many. Jaspal Rana’s impact on Indian shooting will be felt for generations. My thoughts are with his family and loved ones during this difficult time.” Dhawan tweeted.

A champion, a coach and an inspiration to many. 🙏 Jaspal Rana’s impact on Indian shooting will be felt for generations. My thoughts are with his family and loved ones during this difficult time.

— Shikhar Dhawan (@SDhawan25) June 12, 2026

President of India, Droupadi Murmu reacted to Rana`s death calling him an `exceptional shooter who brought glory to the nation.

The news of the passing of Shri Jaspal Rana Ji is extremely sad. He was a renowned shooter whose exceptional performances brought glory to the nation.
A winner of several medals at global shooting competitions, he established himself as an icon of Indian sports. As an athlete and…

— President of India (@rashtrapatibhvn) June 12, 2026

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