NE SPORTS BUREAU
NEW DELHI, JUNE 12
Indian shooting lost one of its tallest icons on Friday with the passing of former Asian Games gold medallist and celebrated coach Jaspal Rana at the age of 49, triggering an outpouring of grief across the nation led by Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union Home Minister Amit Shah.
Rana, who was serving as the High-Performance Coach for India’s pistol shooting programme and mentoring several elite shooters, including double Olympic medallist Manu Bhaker, reportedly fell ill while returning from the ISSF World Cup in Munich and was later admitted to hospital, where he breathed his last.
- Former Asian Games champion and India’s most decorated Commonwealth Games shooter dies after illness following ISSF World Cup trip
- Prime Minister calls his demise “a profound loss to the world of Indian sports”, while Home Minister terms it “an irreparable loss to the nation”
- Master coach behind Olympic medallist Manu Bhaker and a generation of champion pistol shooters leaves behind an enduring legacy
- Sporting fraternity mourns the passing of a champion athlete, mentor and architect of India’s modern shooting excellence
His demise marks the end of a remarkable chapter in Indian sport—one defined not only by record-breaking performances on the range but also by his transformative role in nurturing the country’s next generation of champions.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi expressed profound sorrow over the loss and described Rana’s contribution to Indian sport as unparalleled.
Posting on X, the Prime Minister 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
“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.”
Union Home Minister Amit Shah also paid heartfelt tribute, describing Rana’s death as a national loss.
In his message, Shah wrote:
Deeply saddened by the demise of legendary sportsperson Jaspal Rana Ji. He dedicated his life to establishing India’s indomitable mettle in shooting by winning international honors for the nation and by nurturing young shooters as a coach. Rana Ji’s passing is an irreparable loss…
— Amit Shah (@AmitShah) June 12, 2026
“Deeply saddened by the demise of legendary sportsperson Jaspal Rana Ji. He dedicated his life to establishing India’s indomitable mettle in shooting by winning international honors for the nation and by nurturing young shooters as a coach. Rana Ji’s passing is an irreparable loss to the nation. At this moment of grief, I extend heartfelt condolences to his family and millions of admirers.”
National Rifle Association of India (NRAI) President Kalikesh Narayan Singh Deo mourned the loss, saying:
“It is a huge loss. He was not only a champion shooter but also a great mentor. He will be deeply missed.”
Rana’s achievements as a shooter remain etched in Indian sporting history. Across four Commonwealth Games editions—1994, 1998, 2002 and 2006—he amassed an astonishing 15 medals, including nine gold, four silver and two bronze, making him India’s most successful athlete in the history of the Games.
He also secured eight medals at the Asian Games and was honoured with the Arjuna Award in 1994 and the Padma Shri in 1997 for his outstanding contributions to Indian shooting.
His second innings as a coach proved equally inspirational. Recognised with the Dronacharya Award in 2020, India’s highest coaching honour, Rana played a pivotal role in shaping modern Indian pistol shooting.
Among his finest coaching achievements was guiding Manu Bhaker to her historic double bronze-medal feat at the Paris Olympics. He also mentored elite shooters including Saurabh Chaudhary, Anish Bhanwala and Chinki Yadav, laying the foundation for India’s emergence as a global shooting powerhouse.
With his relentless pursuit of excellence, uncompromising discipline and unwavering commitment to nurturing talent, Jaspal Rana leaves behind a legacy that will continue to inspire generations of Indian shooters.
