New Delhi, 13 June (H.S.):

India's star shooter Manu Bhaker has described the death of her mentor and coach Jaspal Rana as an irreparable loss for the sporting world.

Jaspal Rana, one of India's greatest pistol shooters who later became a highly successful coach, passed away at the age of 49 due to cardiac complications on the intervening night of Thursday and Friday. At the time of his death, he was serving as the High Performance Coach of the Indian pistol shooting team.

Rana played a pivotal role in reshaping Manu Bhaker's career. Under his guidance, she achieved a historic feat at the Paris Olympics 2024, winning two bronze medals and creating a new chapter in Indian sporting history.

Expressing her grief over the loss of her mentor, Manu shared three photographs on social media and wrote just two words: Irreparable Loss.

Currently attending the national training camp in Dehradun, Manu was also present when Jaspal Rana's mortal remains were brought to the city. On Friday evening, she was seen paying her final respects alongside Rana's father, N.S. Rana, and other members of the bereaved family.

Jaspal Rana enjoyed a distinguished shooting career that spanned more than 15 years. Among his greatest achievements were his performances at the 2006 Asian Games, where he won three gold medals and one silver medal, equalling a world record at the time.

His remarkable ability to identify talent and prepare athletes for success on the biggest stages made him one of the most influential coaches in Indian shooting. His contribution to the sport will continue to inspire future generations of shooters.

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Hindusthan Samachar / Jun Sarkar