Indian Olympic star Manu Bhaker’s coach Jaspal Rana passed away on 11 June at age 49. He became ill during return from Munich Shooting World Cup and was admitted to Max Hospital, Saket, Delhi.
Career as a Shooter and Coach
Rana made his mark in shooting during the 1990s, winning four Asian Games golds and nine Commonwealth Games gold medals. He became Junior World Champion in the 25-meter pistol in 1994. After competing in the 2006 Asian and Commonwealth Games, he retired as a shooter and started coaching in 2012.
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
Contribution to Indian Shooting
Over the next decade, Jaspal Rana emerged as one of India’s top high-performance shooting coaches. He coached the Indian contingent at the 2024 Paris Olympics, where Manu Bhaker won two medals, acknowledging Rana’s guidance.
Legacy and Mourning
Rana devoted over three decades to shooting as a player and coach. His death leaves a significant void in Indian sports, particularly in pistol shooting, and the nation mourns his loss.
