Pioneer In Short
Shooting Legend Jaspal Rana Passes
Former Indian pistol shooter and coach Jaspal Rana, aged 49, died at Max Super Speciality Hospital, Delhi, on Thursday night following a sudden cardiac rupture, the National Rifle Association of India confirmed. Rana had been admitted on June 1, after suffering a delayed acute heart attack while travelling, which required emergency stenting. Doctors said he initially responded well to treatment and was even preparing for discharge before his condition abruptly worsened during sleep. One of India’s most accomplished shooters, Rana was a Dronacharya Awardee (2020) and a former Arjuna Award and Padma Shri recipient. As a high-performance coach for India’s 25m pistol squad, he played a pivotal role in rebuilding the country’s shooting program and mentoring a new generation of elite athletes.
Among his most notable contributions was guiding Manu Bhaker to two bronze medals at the 2024 Paris Olympics, a historic achievement for Indian shooting. As an athlete, he won multiple Commonwealth and Asian Games medals, including three golds at the 2006 Doha Asian Games, and remained India’s most successful Commonwealth Games shooter with 15 medals. His last rites will be performed in Varanasi on Saturday. The shooting fraternity has expressed deep shock, calling his death a major loss ahead of upcoming international events.
