Pioneering Indian shooting coach Jaspal Rana dies at 49

Renowned Indian shooter and coach Jaspal Rana, one of the country’s most decorated marksmen and a key architect of India’s modern shooting success, passed away in New Delhi on Friday following health complications. He was 49. Rana was admitted to a Delhi Hospital after reportedly experiencing discomfort while returning from the ISSF World Cup in Munich. Despite medical intervention, he succumbed to his illness, leaving the Indian sporting fraternity in mourning. A towering figure in Indian shooting, Rana enjoyed a distinguished career spanning more than three decades, earning accolades both as an athlete and as a mentor to a new generation of champions. At the time of his death, he was serving as India’s high-performance coach for pistol events.
Rana is survived by his wife, Reena Rana, daughter Devanshi, son Yuvraj, father Narayan Singh Rana, and his two siblings, Sushma Singh and Subhash Rana. According to National Rifle Association of India (NRAI) president Kalikesh Narayan Singh Deo, Rana breathed his last at a Delhi hospital on Thursday night. Sources said he died of complications related to heart.Rana was one of India's finest pistol shooters who made a hugely successful transition to coaching and guided Manu Bhaker to epoch-making twin bronze medals at the Paris Olympics, has shockingly died at a mere 49 years of age after battling cardiac complications.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi expressed grief over Rana’s demise, describing it as a profound loss to Indian sports. In a post on X, 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 guiding young athletes with great dedication.”
Union Defence Minister Rajnath Singh also paid tribute, recalling Rana’s immense contribution to the sport. “I am stunned and grief-stricken by the sudden demise of the internationally renowned shooter Jaspal Rana. He was not only an exceptional athlete and coach but also an extremely affable, simple and kind-hearted person. He played a highly influential role in popularising shooting as a sport in India,” Singh said.
Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge expressed grief over the demise of internationally renowned shooter Jaspal Rana. In a social media post, he wrote, "Deeply saddened by the passing of Jaspal Rana ji, a towering figure in Indian sport and one of our greatest shooting champions... My heartfelt condolences to his family, friends and the entire sporting fraternity."