Jaspal Rana, Manu Bhaker's Coach and Four-Time Asian Games Gold Medallist, Dies at 49

Jaspal Rana, Manu Bhaker's Coach and Four-Time Asian Games Gold Medallist, Dies at 49

The Garhwali pistol legend who won his first Asian Games gold at age 17 in 1994 died at a Delhi hospital after falling ill on the return flight from the ISSF World Cup in Munich, leaving behind a three-decade legacy as both champion and coach.

Jaspal Rana, one of India's most decorated pistol shooters and the coach credited with guiding Manu Bhaker to her historic double-bronze finish at the Paris Olympics, died at the age of 49 on Thursday night, the National Rifle Association of India confirmed on Friday.

Indian shooting coach Jaspal Rana died aged 49 on Thursday night, confirmed the National Rifle Association of India on Friday. The Asian Games gold medallist breathed his last at a Delhi hospital, said NRAI president Kalikesh Narayan Singh Deo, quoted by PTI. 

What happened

Rana was admitted to a hospital in Delhi after falling ill during the Indian contingent's return flight from the ISSF World Cup in Munich, Germany. He subsequently underwent a medical procedure in New Delhi to have a stent implanted. 

Max Hospital in Saket confirmed the development, stating: "Jaspal Rana, shooter and coach of Double Olympics medalist Manu Bhaker, passed away at Max Saket Hospital this morning." 

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A career spanning three decades as athlete and coach

Rana was one of India's most decorated pistol shooters and dedicated more than three decades to the sport, first as a champion athlete and later as a coach. At the time of his death, he was serving as the high-performance coach of India's pistol shooting team. 

Born in 1976 into a Garhwali family in Uttarakhand, Rana rose to fame in the 1990s after winning gold in the 25m Centre Fire Pistol event at the 1994 Asian Games in Hiroshima. That victory came when Rana was just 17 years old. Rana went on to win three Asian Games gold medals at the 2006 edition, having established himself as a pistol legend in his own right by the time he transitioned to coaching. 

After a decorated career as an elite shooter, Rana transformed Indian shooting through his roles as the junior national team coach and high-performance trainer. The NRAI had officially appointed Rana as the high-performance coach for the 25m pistol discipline in February 2025. 

Mentor to Manu Bhaker

The Asian Games gold medallist shooter was instrumental in tutoring Manu Bhaker to her historic double bronze-medal feat at the Paris Olympics. Bhaker's twin bronze medals at the 2024 Paris Games made her the first Indian woman to win two Olympic medals in a single edition of the Games — an achievement widely credited to the training partnership between her and Rana. 

A vocal advocate for athletes

Throughout his coaching career, Rana was known for openly challenging the federation he served. In one notable instance, Rana said a "tweak" in selection policy had kept then-16-year-old Asian Games gold medallist Saurabh Chaudhary out of the national team for a year, saying: "He was out of the national team for one year because the policy was twisted by certain influential people within and outside the National Rifle Association of India." 

Rana repeatedly criticised the federation's "ever-changing" selection policy, telling reporters: "The selection policy changes every six months... whatever they decide, right or wrong, we are not discussing that, and then stick to it. You will see the difference." 

Tributes from the Prime Minister

Prime Minister Narendra Modi wrote on X: "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 guiding young athletes with great dedication. His unwavering commitment to excellence, discipline and service to the sporting world earned him immense admiration." 

The cause of the medical emergency that led to Rana falling ill on the flight from Munich has not been officially confirmed beyond the stent procedure described by hospital and NRAI sources. Funeral arrangements have not been officially announced at the time of writing.