New Delhi, 12 June (H.S.): Indian shooting suffered a major setback with the passing of legendary coach and former star shooter Jaspal Rana, who died late Thursday night at a private hospital in Saket, New Delhi. He was 49. His demise has triggered an outpouring of grief across the Indian sporting fraternity, particularly within the shooting community.

According to available information, Rana's health deteriorated while returning with the Indian contingent from the ISSF World Cup held recently in Munich, Germany. He subsequently underwent treatment for a cardiac condition, during which a stent was implanted. At the time of his death, he was serving as the High-Performance Coach of India's pistol shooting team.

Rana was widely regarded as one of the most influential figures in Indian shooting. As a coach, he played a pivotal role in nurturing several international-level athletes and elevating Indian shooting to new heights. Under his guidance, Manu Bhaker created history at the Paris 2024 Olympics by winning two medals, becoming the first athlete from independent India to secure two medals at a single Olympic Games.

Rana also enjoyed an illustrious career as a competitive shooter. He ranks among India's most successful athletes in the history of the Commonwealth Games, having won a total of 15 medals across four editions of the event. His remarkable haul included nine gold medals, four silver medals and two bronze medals.

Following the conclusion of his competitive career, Rana made coaching his life's mission. He was instrumental in developing a new generation of elite Indian shooters, mentoring athletes such as Manu Bhaker, Saurabh Chaudhary, Anish Bhanwala and Chinki Yadav, all of whom went on to represent India at the international level.

In recognition of his immense contribution to Indian sports and athlete development, Rana was honoured with the prestigious Dronacharya Award in 2020.

The death of Jaspal Rana is being viewed as an irreparable loss for Indian shooting. His achievements as both an athlete and coach, coupled with his dedication to nurturing sporting excellence, have left an enduring legacy that will continue to inspire future generations of Indian shooters.

Hindusthan Samachar / Jun Sarkar