Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Jaspal Rana (ANI Image)
New Delhi: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday led the nation in mourning the death of popular shooting coach and former Asian Games gold medalist Jaspal Rana, terming his death a “huge loss to the world of Indian sports”.Rana, who worked as a high-performance coach for Indian pistol shooters, died in a Delhi hospital on Thursday evening at the age of 49.At Expo“I am deeply saddened by the demise of Mr. Jaspal Rana ji. His death is a huge loss to the world of Indian sports,” Modi wrote. “He has brought immense glory to the nation through his extraordinary achievements in shooting and his remarkable contribution has also been as a mentor, shaping and mentoring young athletes with great dedication.”The Prime Minister also praised Rana’s values and commitment to sports.“His unwavering commitment to excellence, discipline and service to the world of sports has earned him great admiration. My thoughts are with his family, friends and the entire sports fraternity in this hour of grief. Om Shanti,” he added.
From champion shooter to master trainer
Rana enjoyed a thriving career as one of India’s best pistol shooters before turning his attention to coaching.
He later emerged as one of the most influential figures in Indian shooting, helping to shape a new generation of stars. His most notable contribution came as a mentor to Manu Bhaker, who made history by winning two bronze medals at the 2024 Paris Olympics.Since taking over as the national junior pistol coach in 2012, Rana has groomed several talented shooters, including Saurabh Chaudhary, Anish Bhanwala and Chinki Yadav.
Last days after the World Cup in Munich
Rana recently traveled with the Indian team to participate in the FIFA World Cup in Munich, where the team returned with four medals, including two gold and two silver.According to officials, he fell ill during the return flight and was immediately taken to a hospital in New Delhi upon landing. He underwent a stent procedure but was unable to recover.The National Rifle Association of India appointed him High Performance Coach for the 25m Pistol in February 2025.Rana was honored with the Dronacharya Award in 2020 and leaves behind a towering legacy as a champion run-scorer and architect of India’s modern shooting success.
