Renowned Indian shooting coach Jaspal Rana, a former Asian Games gold medallist, has passed away at the age of 49. Rana, who coached several Indian pistol shooters, including Manu Bhaker, a double Olympic medallist, was serving as the high-performance coach for Indian pistol events. He was admitted to the hospital after experiencing discomfort on his return from the ISSF World Cup in Munich.
National Rifle Association of India (NRAI) President Kalikesh Narayan Singh Deo expressed his condolences over Rana’s demise, highlighting his significant contributions. Rana, a prolific athlete, holds the record for being India’s most successful athlete in Commonwealth Games history, securing a total of 15 medals across four editions. He also achieved success at the Asian Games, winning eight medals in various editions.
Recognized for his exceptional coaching skills, Rana was honored with prestigious awards such as the Arjuna Award in 1994 and the Padma Shri in 1997. In 2020, he received the Dronacharya Award, the highest accolade for sports coaching in India. Transitioning from a successful shooting career to coaching, Rana played a pivotal role in nurturing India’s emerging pistol shooters, with notable successes like guiding Manu Bhaker to historic victories at the Paris Olympics.
