DEHRADUN: Jaspal Rana, one of India’s most accomplished pistol shooters, an Asian Games gold medallist and a highly respected coach who mentored several of the country’s top shooters, passed away at a private hospital in Delhi on Friday, according to initial inputs. He was 49.
Rana, who hailed from Uttarakhand, reportedly breathed his last at Max Hospital, Saket, where he had been admitted after feeling unwell on his return from the ISSF World Cup in Munich.
A towering figure in Indian shooting, Rana was among the country’s earliest global stars in the sport.
Known for his calm temperament and technical excellence, he won several medals for India in pistol shooting and became a familiar name following his success at the Asian Games and other major international competitions.
After retiring from competitive shooting, Rana moved into coaching and was widely credited with shaping the next generation of Indian pistol shooters.
He served as a high-performance coach and worked closely with several elite shooters, including double Olympic medallist Manu Bhaker.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi also expressed grief over Rana’s demise. In a post on X, Modi said he was “deeply saddened” by the passing of Jaspal Rana and described it as a “profound loss to the world of Indian sports”.
He said Rana brought immense glory to the nation through his extraordinary achievements in shooting and lauded his contribution as a mentor who shaped and guided young athletes with great dedication.
PM Modi added that Rana’s commitment to excellence, discipline and service to the sporting world earned him widespread admiration. He also conveyed his condolences to Rana’s family, friends and the sporting fraternity.
“India has lost one of its finest shooting minds,” a senior shooting official told this daily. “Jaspal was not only a champion athlete but also a coach who understood pressure, technique and temperament like very few others.”
Rana’s contribution to Indian shooting extended beyond medals. As a coach, he played a key role in strengthening India’s pistol programme and was regarded as a demanding but deeply committed mentor.
Born into a family with strong public and sporting connections, Rana was the son of Narayan Singh Rana, a former sports minister in the Uttarakhand government.
His association with Uttarakhand remained strong throughout his career, and he was regarded as one of the state’s most prominent sporting icons.
Condolences began pouring in from the shooting fraternity and sports circles as news of his demise spread.
“His passing is a huge loss to Indian sport,” Uttarakhand Sports Minister Rekha Arya told this daily. “Generations of shooters looked up to him, first as a champion and later as a coach.”
Arya said she was “deeply saddened and shocked” by the untimely demise of Rana, the Dronacharya awardee and international shooter from Uttarkashi.
Calling his death an irreparable loss to Indian sport and Uttarakhand, she said Rana inspired millions, won gold medals at the Asian and Commonwealth Games, and later elevated Indian shooting as a coach by mentoring talents such as Olympic medallist Manu Bhaker, leaving behind a lasting legacy.