PM Modi condoles death of former Indian shooter, coach Jaspal Rana
New Delhi, June 12
Prime Minister Narendra Modi mourned the demise of former India shooter and renowned coach Jaspal Rana.
The 49-year-old passed away in New Delhi on Friday after battling health complications. He was admitted to Max Hospital in Saket, South Delhi, where he breathed his last, hospital officials confirmed.
PM Modi shared a post on X, paying his condolences and wrote, "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. My thoughts are with his family, friends and the entire sporting fraternity in this hour of grief. Om Shanti."
Rana had reportedly fallen ill while returning from the ISSF World Cup in Munich on Thursday and later underwent a medical procedure in Delhi. His passing comes as a major blow to Indian shooting, where he played a transformative role both as an athlete and a coach.
One of India's most decorated shooters, Rana leaves behind a remarkable legacy spanning more than three decades. He remains India's most successful Commonwealth Games athlete, having won an extraordinary 15 medals -- nine gold, four silver and two bronze -- across the 1994, 1998, 2002 and 2006 editions of the Games.
His achievements extended well beyond the Commonwealth stage. Rana secured four gold medals and one silver at the Asian Games, including a gold medal at the 1994 Hiroshima Asian Games and a historic haul of three gold medals at the 2006 Doha Asian Games.
Known for his grit and determination, Rana famously won three gold medals in Doha despite competing with a high fever, a feat that remains one of the most celebrated achievements in Indian shooting history.
After retiring from competition, Rana devoted himself to coaching and talent development. As a junior national coach, he identified and nurtured several future stars, including Manu Bhaker and Saurabh Chaudhary.
Despite a widely publicised fallout with Bhaker before the Tokyo Olympics, the two later reunited, with Rana playing a key role in her successful campaign that culminated in two bronze medals at the Paris Olympics in 2024.
At the time of his death, Rana was serving as India's high-performance coach for pistol events.
— ANI
Reader Comments
It's heartbreaking to lose such a dedicated coach and shooter at just 49. My thoughts are with his family. I hope the government posthumously awards him the Padma Shri - his contribution to Indian sports, especially shooting, is unmatched. The way he helped build the pipeline from junior level to Olympic medals is remarkable.
While PM Modi's tribute is appropriate, I wish there was more concrete action from the government to support our athletes and coaches, especially those dealing with health issues abroad. Jaspal Rana fell ill returning from ISSF World Cup - we need better medical coverage for our sports personnel. Still, a great loss. Om Shanti.
As someone who follows international shooting, Jaspal Rana's legacy is incredible. 15 Commonwealth medals and 5 Asian Games medals - that level of consistency over 12 years is rare. And then to transition into coaching and produce Manu Bhaker's Olympic success... He truly gave everything to Indian sports. Deep condolences from Canada.
Gone too soon. Jaspal Rana was a mentor to so many young shooters - Manu Bhaker, Saurabh Chaudhary, and countless others. The 15 Commonwealth medals record will stand for a long time. But what I'll remember most is how he bounced back from the Tokyo controversy to guide Manu to Paris Olympics bronze. That's true sportsmanship. 🙏
This is so sad. I remember watching his gold-winning performance in the 2006 Commonwealth Games with fever - that level of grit is inspirational. He was more than a shooter;
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