By Shishir Prashant 
PrashantNews
Indian sports lost one of its most influential figures when renowned shooter and coach Jaspal Rana died in a Delhi hospital on Friday following a cardiac rupture in sleep. He was 49.
Rana, a former Asian Games gold medalist and one of India’s most decorated shooters, passed away at a Delhi hospital where he was undergoing heart treatment after his return from the ISSF World Cup in Munich. Doctors said he suffered a heart attack after a stent was put following the artery blockage.
Ace shooter Manu Bhaker had credited her coach Rana for helping her win the double bronze medals at the 2024 Paris Olympics. Bhaker was the first Indian to win two medals in a single Olympic games. Rana had set up his first shooting academy at Pondha in Dehradun.
Born on June 28, 1976, in Uttarakhand, Rana emerged as a shooting prodigy in the early 1990s and went on to become one of the country’s most successful pistol shooters. Over a distinguished competitive career, he won multiple medals at the Asian Games, Commonwealth Games and World Championships, establishing himself as a dominant force in international shooting. He remains India’s most successful Commonwealth Games shooter, collecting 15 medals across four editions of the event.
Rana’s achievements earned him some of India’s highest sporting honours. He received the Arjuna Award in 1994, the Padma Shri in 1997, and later the Dronacharya Award for his contribution to coaching and athlete development.
While his achievements as an athlete were remarkable, Rana’s second career as a coach arguably had an even greater impact. As high-performance coach of India’s pistol shooting team, he mentored several elite shooters, most notably Manu Bhaker. His guidance played a crucial role in India’s rise as a global shooting power and helped nurture a new generation of medal contenders.
Rana came from a family deeply connected to sports and public life. His father, Narayan Singh Rana, was a war veteran and a prominent figure in Uttarakhand’s sporting landscape.
Rana also unsuccessfully contested 2009 Tehri Lok Sabha elections on BJP ticket.
Tributes poured in from across the country following news of his death. Prime Minister Narendra Modi described his passing as “a profound loss to the world of Indian sports,” praising both his achievements as a champion shooter and his role in nurturing future stars.
Jaspal Rana leaves behind a legacy that extends far beyond medals and records. As a champion, mentor and ambassador of Indian shooting, he inspired countless athletes and helped transform the sport in India. His contributions will remain a lasting part of the nation’s sporting history.