New Delhi, June 13: The National Rifle Association of India (NRAI) expressed profound sorrow on Friday over the passing of renowned pistol shooter and national coach Jaspal Rana. He passed away at the age of 49 in New Delhi.
NRAI President Kalikesh Singh Deo described Rana’s death as an irreplaceable loss for Indian sports.
He stated, “The loss of Jaspal Rana is one that cannot be compensated. He was a mentor who inspired an entire generation of shooters to excel on the international stage. As an athlete, his achievements were remarkable, and as a coach, his dedication helped shape the careers of our finest champions. On behalf of the NRAI, I extend my heartfelt condolences to his family during this difficult time.”
NRAI Secretary General Pawan Kumar Singh commented, “Jaspal Rana’s contribution to Indian shooting is unparalleled. He brought immense discipline and technical expertise to our national coaching program, which helped nurture young talents into global medal winners. The entire shooting community will miss him dearly. Our prayers are with his family.”
One of India’s most celebrated shooters, Rana leaves behind a rich legacy as both an athlete and a coach. He made an unprecedented contribution to shooting for over three decades.
Born on June 28, 1976, in Uttarakhand, Rana gained international recognition by winning the junior world title in 1994 in Milan with a world record score in the 25-meter standard pistol event. Two years later, he represented India at the Atlanta Olympics.
Rana won 15 medals at the Commonwealth Games, including nine gold medals across four editions from 1994 to 2006. He also secured eight Asian Games medals, four of which were gold.
Among his most memorable achievements was at the 2006 Doha Asian Games, where he won three gold medals despite suffering from a high fever, equaling the world record score of 590 in the 25-meter center fire pistol event.
After retiring from competitive shooting, Jaspal Rana transitioned to coaching, playing a pivotal role in training the next generation of Indian shooters. Under his guidance, Manu Bhaker won two bronze medals in shooting at the 2024 Paris Olympics, becoming the first Indian athlete to win two medals in a single Olympic event.
For his extraordinary contributions to shooting, Jaspal Rana was honored with the Arjuna Award in 1994 and the Padma Shri in 1997. In 2020, he received the Dronacharya Award for his coaching achievements.
Leave a Comment