Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday condoled the death of legendary shooter and coach Jaspal Rana, describing it as a profound loss to Indian sport and remembering him as a champion who brought immense glory to the nation through both his achievements and his work as a mentor.
Rana, 49, passed away at a Delhi hospital on Thursday night after suffering a medical emergency earlier this week.
In a post on X, Modi paid tribute to the former Asian Games gold medallist and praised his contribution to Indian shooting. “Deeply saddened by the passing of Shri Jaspal Rana Ji. His passing is a profound loss to the world of Indian sports,” the Prime Minister wrote.
“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.”
Rana had recently fallen ill while returning from the ISSF World Cup in Munich, Germany, with the Indian contingent. After landing in New Delhi, he was admitted to hospital, where he underwent a medical procedure to have a stent implanted. He remained under medical care before passing away on Thursday night.
At the time of his death, Rana was serving as the High-Performance Coach for Indian pistol shooters, a role he took up after years of shaping the country’s next generation of talent.
FROM SHOOTING ICON TO MASTER COACH
One of India’s most accomplished shooters, Rana enjoyed a decorated career before moving into coaching, where he made an equally significant impact.
Since joining the junior national programme in 2012, he played a key role in developing several of India’s top pistol shooters, including Manu Bhaker, Saurabh Chaudhary, Anish Bhanwala and Chinki Yadav.
His work with Bhaker drew widespread attention after the shooter won two bronze medals at the Paris Olympics in 2024, becoming the first Indian athlete to secure two medals at a single edition of the Games.
Rana was widely respected for his ability to prepare shooters for high-pressure competitions, introducing training methods designed to replicate match-day conditions and Olympic-level intensity.
LEAVING BEHIND A LASTING LEGACY
The National Rifle Association of India appointed Rana as High-Performance Coach for the 25m pistol discipline in February 2025, recognising his contribution to the growth of Indian shooting.
Beyond medals and results, Rana’s greatest legacy may lie in the generation of shooters he helped nurture. His work at the grassroots and junior levels created a steady pipeline of talent that has strengthened India’s standing in international shooting.
In 2020, the government honoured him with the Dronacharya Award for his contribution to coaching and athlete development.
Tributes continued to pour in from across the sporting world on Friday, with athletes, coaches and administrators remembering Rana as a fierce competitor, a demanding coach and a mentor who dedicated his life to the sport.
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