Jaspal Rana, former Asian Games gold medalist, dies at 49 & more related news here

Renowned Indian shooting coach and former Asian Games gold medalist Jaspal Rana, 49, passed away on Friday (June 12, 2026).

Jaspal Rana recently underwent a medical procedure after falling ill during the Indian contingent’s return flight from the ISSF World Cup in Munich, Germany.

Until his death, Rana served as a high performance coach for Indian pistol shooters.

Born in 1976, Rana won numerous medals in international competitions, including the Asian Games and the Commonwealth Games. He was instrumental in shaping India’s presence in shooting sports.

Jaspal Rana had a remarkable tally of 15 medals (9 gold, 4 silver and 2 bronze) won in four editions of the Commonwealth Games viz. 1994, 1998, 2002 and 2006. He was conferred with the Arjuna Award in 1994 and the Padma Shri in 1997 for his contributions to Indian shooting. Jaspal Rana received the Dronacharya Award in 2020.

Jaspal Rana is credited with helping Manu Bhaker win double bronze medals at the Paris 2024 Olympics.

The former shooter, considered a maverick in Indian shooting circles for his outspoken demeanor and passion for the sport, was a prodigal talent and won his first gold at the national level at just 12 years of age.

Her international breakthrough was the 25m gold medals at the 1994 Asian and Commonwealth Games.

In fact, the Asian gold was India’s first in 16 years after Raja Randhir Singh opened the account in 1978. Randhir had recently passed away after battling age-related ailments.

Rana’s greatest moment as a shooter came at the 2006 Asian Games, when he captured three gold medals and one silver in a sensational performance that included equaling the world record of the time.

After a decorated career as an elite shooter, Rana transformed Indian shooting through his roles as a youth national team coach and high performance coach.

His most important coaching contribution was mentoring Manu Bhaker and helping her to two bronze medals at the 2024 Paris Olympics, making her the first Indian to achieve such a feat.

As a junior pistol coach since 2012, he also groomed teenage sensations like Saurabh Chaudhary, Anish Bhanwala and Chinki Yadav.

His work with the youth program created a huge pipeline of international talent, creating a lasting impact on the sport.

(With PTI inputs)