The Indian shooting fraternity has suffered another major loss. Jaspal Rana, one of the country's pioneering shooters and a decorated champion who won multiple gold medals at the Asian Games and the Commonwealth Games, has passed away at the age of 49. The news of his demise was confirmed by National Rifle Association of India (NRAI) President Kalikesh Narayan Singh Deo, sending shockwaves across the sporting community.
Serving as the coach of India's pistol shooting team, Jaspal Rana reportedly fell seriously ill while returning from the ISSF World Cup in Munich about a week ago. After landing in Delhi, he was immediately admitted to a hospital and underwent surgery. Despite medical efforts, he could not recover and passed away.
Rana's coaching career
Rana’s contributions have changed the face of Indian shooting completely, having followed up after Manu Bhaker who won back-to-back double bronze medals at the Paris Olympics in 2024. He also coached a generation of talented shooters, including Saurabh Chaudhary, Anish Bhanwala, and Chinki Yadav. As recognition of his services to the sport, he received the Dronacharya Award in 2020.
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Condoling his death, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said that it was a "profound loss to the world of Indian sports".
"Deeply saddened by the passing of Shri Jaspal Rana Ji. His passing is a profound loss to the world of Indian sports. 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," he posted on X.
Deeply saddened by the passing of Shri Jaspal Rana Ji. His passing is a profound loss to the world of Indian sports.
— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) June 12, 2026
He brought immense glory to the nation through his extraordinary achievements in shooting. Equally remarkable was his contribution as a mentor, shaping and
Abhinav Bindra, who won an Olympic gold medal, conveyed his sorrow through X. “Very sad to learn about the passing away of my ex-team-mate and coach, Jaspal Rana,” he wrote. “A very talented shooter who wore the colors of his country with immense pride.”
Heartbroken to hear about Jaspal Ranas passing.
— Abhinav A. Bindra OLY (@Abhinav_Bindra) June 12, 2026
Jaspal was my teammate, and in many ways, part of a generation that helped shape Indian shooting. He was intense, gifted, and carried the pride of the country every time he stepped onto the range.
This is a huge loss for our
End of remarkable chapter
It should be noted that before becoming a famous coach, Rana was a formidable force on the shooting range. It all started spectacularly for Rana with a gold medal he earned at the Asian Games held in 1994, participating in the 25m Centre Fire Pistol category. One of the best Commonwealth Games shooters that India has ever had, Rana earned 15 medals, of which nine were gold.
As an athlete, Rana won the prestigious Arjuna award at the age of 18 and also the Padma Shri award after three more years of participation in competitions. As far as the peak moment of Rana's career as a shooting competitor goes, he managed to earn three gold medals at the 2006 Doha Asian Games.
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The death of Jaspal Rana marks the end of a remarkable chapter in Indian shooting and is a significant loss for the country's sporting community. He started out as a young wonder who broke records and grew up to become the man who made Indians win at the Olympics.
FAQs:
What caused the untimely passing of legendary Indian shooter Jaspal Rana?
He suffered a serious illness while flying back from the ISSF World Cup in Munich and passed away following surgery in Delhi.
Which notable Indian shooters did Jaspal Rana train during his coaching career?
He coached multi-time Olympic medalist Manu Bhaker, along with Saurabh Chaudhary, Anish Bhanwala, and Chinki Yadav.
