- The ‘Golden Boy’ of Indian shooting has been lost
- Jaspal Rana passed away at the age of 49
- The condition worsened on the plane
India’s famous shooter and coach Jaspal Rana passed away on Friday (June 12). He was 49 years old. According to reports, he was recently returning from Munich, Germany with the Indian team. His health deteriorated during the journey. After reaching Delhi, he was rushed to a hospital, where he died during treatment. He breathed his last at Max Hospital in Delhi. The news of his sudden death has shocked the sports world. Jaspal Rana brought glory to the country both as a player and as a coach. He also played an important role in encouraging many young players.
India tops ICC ODI Rankings again; Check out the list of top-10 teams, leaving New Zealand and Australia behind
The condition worsened on the plane
According to reports, Jaspal Rana was returning home from Munich recently. He was the high-performance coach of the Indian team that participated in the ISF World Cup. He was returning to New Delhi from Munich after the impressive performance of the Indian team. While returning home, Jaspal Rana felt unwell on the plane itself and his condition worsened. He was rushed to Max Hospital in Saket directly from Delhi Airport. After examination, doctors performed stent surgery to remove the blockage in his heart. However, he died on Friday morning during treatment.
Deeply saddened by the passing of Shri Jaspal Rana Ji. His passing is a profound loss to the world of Indian sports.
He brought immense glory to the nation through his extraordinary achievements in shooting. Equally remarkable was his contribution as a mentor, shaping and…
— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) June 12, 2026
Won many medals for the country
Jaspal Rana was considered one of the most successful shooters in India. He won many medals for the country in World Shooting Championships and Asian Games. He also played an important role in popularizing shooting. Jaspal Rana won a total of eight medals in the Asian Games and gave Indian shooting a new identity. His medal tally includes four gold, two silver and two bronze medals. At the age of just 18, he began his illustrious career by winning the gold medal in the 25-metre centre-fire pistol event at the 1994 Hiroshima Asian Games. He represented India in the 1996 Atlanta Olympics and competed in the 10m air pistol and 50m free pistol events. In 1988, he gained national attention by winning a silver medal in the national shooting competition held in Ahmedabad.
Jaspal Rana’s name is etched in golden letters in the history of Commonwealth Games. He has won medals in four consecutive events in 1994, 1998, 2002 and 2006. This includes 9 gold, 4 silver, 2 bronze medals. His most successful season was the 2002 Manchester Commonwealth Games, where he created history by winning 6 medals.
International travel from Uttarakhand
Born on June 28, 1976 in a Garhwali family in Uttarakhand, Jaspal Rana belonged to a family of sports enthusiasts. His father, Narayan Singh Rana, was a former army officer and later became the first Sports Minister of Uttarakhand. He got a background in shooting from an early age and his father became his first coach.
Great career as a coach too
Dronacharya Award winner Jaspal Rana, 49, has played a vital role in taking Indian shooting to this level. After winning several medals for the country as a decorated athlete, he also trained the new generation of Indian pistol shooters. Recently, in February 2025, the NRAI appointed him as the High-Performance Coach for the 25m Pistol event, where under his guidance the Indian team excelled at the Munich World Cup, winning four medals, including two gold and two silver medals. Working as a junior pistol coach since 2012, he has groomed young shooters like Saurabh Chaudhary, Anish Bhanwala and Chinki Yadav for the international level. He has also trained star shooter Manu Bhakar. Under Jaspal Rana’s rigorous training and guidance, Bhakar won two historic bronze medals at the 2024 Paris Olympics.
IND vs SL: India U-19 squad announced for Sri Lanka tour, Rahul Dravid’s son’s entry in Team India; When will the matches be held?
Comments are closed.