Renowned Indian shooting coach and former Asian Games gold medalist Jaspal Rana (49) passed away on Friday (June 12, 2026). Jaspal Rana had recently undergone treatment after falling ill while returning with the Indian team from the ISSF World Cup in Munich, Germany. Upon arriving in New Delhi, he was immediately hospitalised, and a stent was inserted to clear a blockage in a coronary artery.
According to sources, his condition was initially reported as stable, but his health subsequently deteriorated. Rana is survived by his wife Reena Rana, daughter Devanshi, son Yuvraj, father Narayan Singh Rana, and two siblings, Sushma Singh and Subhash Rana.
It was under Rana’s coaching that his student, Manu, won two Olympic medals in a single edition of the Summer Games in Paris, becoming the first Indian to achieve this feat. Manu won bronze medals in the 10m air pistol and 10m air pistol mixed team events at the 2024 Paris Games.
Known in the Indian shooting fraternity for his outspoken nature and passion for the sport, the former shooter displayed extraordinary talent from childhood and won his first national-level gold medal at the age of just 12.
Gold medals in the 25m event at the 1994 Commonwealth and Asian Games were major international achievements of his career. Notably, this gold medal marked India’s first victory in the event at the Asian Games in 16 years, following Raja Randhir Singh’s gold win in 1978. Raja Randhir Singh had recently passed away after battling age-related ailments.
Rana also holds the record for being India’s most successful athlete at the Commonwealth Games, having won 15 medals (including nine golds) across four editions. Rana’s most memorable moment as a shooter came at the 2006 Asian Games, where he delivered a stellar performance to win three gold medals and one silver, while also equalling the then-world record.
Following an illustrious career as a top-class shooter, Rana brought about significant change in Indian shooting by serving as a junior national team coach and high-performance trainer. Since 2012, in his role as a junior pistol coach, he has groomed young stars such as Saurabh Chaudhary, Anish Bhanwala, and Chinki Yadav.
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