Indian shooting legend and coach Jaspal Rana dies at 49 & more related news here

Indian shooting legend and renowned coach Jaspal Rana passed away on Friday at the age of 49 after suffering a heart emergency earlier this week.

Rana, who was serving as a high-performance coach for the Indian pistol shooters, had reportedly felt uncomfortable returning to India from the ISSF World Cup in Munich. After landing in New Delhi, he was admitted to Max Hospital in Saket, where he received treatment.

Doctors identified a heart obstruction and inserted a stent. A second stent procedure was expected to be performed in the coming days. While initial reports suggested he was stable and recovering, news of his death emerged on Friday morning.

SHOOTING BIG KILLS

“He experienced chest pain and discomfort during the ISSF World Cup in Munich, which he initially mistook for heartburn, and continued with his travel plans. However, the discomfort returned during the return trip to India, prompting immediate medical attention upon arrival in Delhi,” his brother Subash Rana told the media.

Rana’s death has dealt a serious blow to Indian shootings. One of the country’s most accomplished shooters and respected coaches, he played an important role in training several generations of pistol shooters and remained actively involved in the national program until his final days.

In recent years, Rana was widely recognized for his work with Manu Bhaker. The two shared a successful partnership that culminated in the Paris Olympics in 2024, where Bhaker won bronze medals in the women’s 10m air pistol and mixed team 10m air pistol events, becoming the first Indian athlete to win two medals in a single edition of the Olympics after Independence.

Apart from Bhaker, Rana worked closely with several prominent pistol shooters including Saurabh Chaudhary, Anish Bhanwala and Chinki Yadav. His tenure in the youth program helped create a strong talent pool that consistently delivered results for India in international competitions.

The National Rifle Association of India (NRAI) appointed Rana as a high performance coach for the 25 meter pistol discipline in February 2025. Five years earlier, he had been awarded the Dronacharya Award for his contribution to training.

THE DECORATED PISTOL SHOOTER OF INDIA

Long before becoming one of India’s most respected coaches, Rana had established himself as one of the best shooters the country had ever produced.

Born on June 28, 1976 in Uttarakhand, Rana announced himself on the international scene in 1994. At the World Shooting Championships in Milan, he won gold in the junior category with a world record. Later that year, he took gold in the 25m Center Fire Pistol event at the Asian Games, beginning a career that would span more than a decade at the highest level.

Rana became one of India’s most successful shooters, winning medals at the Asian Games, Commonwealth Games and Asian Championships. He remains India’s most successful shooter at the Commonwealth Games, with 15 medals, including nine gold.

His most memorable performance came at the 2006 Asian Games in Doha, where he won three gold medals and equaled the world record in the 25m Center Fire Pistol event.

Success also came early in his career. Rana received the Arjuna Award at the age of 18 and was honored with the Padma Shri three years later.

Over four editions of the Commonwealth Games (1994, 1998, 2002 and 2006), he remained among India’s most reliable medal contenders and helped establish shooting as one of the country’s strongest disciplines in multi-sport events.

THE COACH WHO FORMED A GENERATION

After retiring from competitive shooting, Rana moved into coaching and joined the national organization in 2012. He took charge of the youth pistol program and became a key figure in developing India’s next generation of shooters.

His work with young athletes gained wide recognition as India continued to produce medal contenders in international competitions. Shooters like Saurabh Chaudhary, Anish Bhanwala and Chinki Yadav progressed through the system during his tenure.

Rana was known for his attention to detail and his emphasis on preparing athletes for the pressure of competition. His fellow shooters and coaches often credited him with creating training environments that closely reflected the demands of international events.

His association with Manu Bhaker was one of the most important chapters of his coaching career. After periods of ups and downs in Bhaker’s journey, Rana played an important role in her preparations leading up to the Paris Olympics, where she emerged as one of India’s leading artists.

Even after taking over as high performance coach for the 25 meter pistol discipline, Rana remained closely involved with the national team and continued to work with India’s leading pistol shooters.

THE TRIBUTES ARRIVE

Tributes poured in from across the sporting fraternity following the news of his death. Union Defense Minister Rajnath Singh expressed his condolences and said he was “shocked and heartbroken” over Rana’s demise.

“I am shocked and heartbroken by the sudden demise of internationally renowned shooter Jaspal Rana. Jaspal was not only an exceptional athlete and coach, but also an extremely affable, down-to-earth and kind-hearted person. He played a very influential role in popularizing shooting as a sport in India.

“Jaspal Rana brought glory to India on the world stage by securing gold medals for the country at the World Shooting Championships and the Asian Games. His demise is a great loss to the world of Indian sports. May God grant strength to his bereaved family to bear this pain. At this difficult time, I extend my deepest condolences to his family and fans. Om Shanti,” Singh wrote in X.

Olympic champion shooter Abhinav Bindra expressed his deep sorrow and anguish over Rana’s demise, remembering their long association as teammates and reflecting on his important contribution to Indian shooting. He remembered Rana not only as a dedicated sportsman but also as a respected figure who played an important role in the growth and spirit of the shooting community in India.

“Heartbroken to hear of the passing of Jaspal Rana,” Bhindra wrote in

“This is a great loss for our sport. My deepest condolences to his family, friends, students and all those whose lives he touched,” he added.

Rana is survived by a record that places him among India’s most decorated shooters and a coaching career that influenced many of the country’s top shooters. His contributions as an athlete and coach spanned over three decades and coincided with the rise of Indian shooting as a major force on the international stage.

Sports Minister Mansukh Mandaviya also remembered Rana’s contributions to Indian shooting.

“Deeply saddened by the passing away of Indian shooting legend Shri Jaspal Rana Ji. His incredible contributions to our nation, as a champion athlete and exceptional mentor, leave behind an inspiring legacy. My deepest condolences to his family, friends and the sporting fraternity. Om Shanti,” Mandaviya said.

Shooter and London Olympics silver medalist Vijay Kumar also expressed shock over Rana’s death and said the former national champion’s contribution as a shooter and coach would be remembered.

“Rana ji was my teammate in the Asian Games and Commonwealth Games. It is a big loss for the sport and the country. He was also a good coach,” Vijay Kumar said.

“A few days ago I found out that he was not feeling well, but I never thought he would leave us all like this. I am in shock,” he added.

An Asian Games and Commonwealth Games gold medalist, Rana was widely regarded as one of India’s greatest pistol shooters and later became a respected mentor who guided several young shooters, notably double Olympic bronze medalist Manu Bhaker.

Former world number one double trap Ronjan Sodhi described it as “very shocking”.

“I have to know that he is no more. Very good friend of mine, I actually can’t believe it. It’s very, very sad, very unfortunate. A very dear friend, an incredible person. I can’t say more. A great loss for all of us,” Ronjan said.

“He was actually the first person to show us how to win on the world stage (after his exploits at the 1994 Asian Games in Hiroshima, Japan),” Ronjan added.

– Finish