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Indian shooting great Jaspal Rana, a multiple Asian Games and Commonwealth Games gold medallist, passed away on Thursday night at the age of 49. According to PTI, the National Rifle Association of India (NRAI) confirmed that Rana breathed his last at a Delhi hospital.

His sudden demise has come as a shock to the sporting fraternity. Rana had reportedly undergone a medical procedure after falling ill during the Indian contingent’s return flight from the ISSF World Cup in Munich, Germany. He was immediately hospitalised after landing in Delhi last week.

Over the past few years, Rana played a pivotal role in shaping Indian shooting as a coach. Serving as a junior national team coach and later as a high-performance coach, he mentored several top shooters, including Manu Bhaker, whom he guided to a historic double bronze medal haul at the 2024 Paris Olympics. He also nurtured talents such as Saurabh Chaudhary, Anish Bhanwala, and Chinki Yadav. In February 2025, the NRAI appointed him as the high-performance coach for the 25m pistol discipline.

Recognising his contribution to Indian shooting, the government honoured him with the Dronacharya Award in 2020.

Paying tribute, Olympic champion Abhinav Bindra described Rana as a gifted athlete who helped shape Indian shooting. He called his passing a huge loss for the sport and extended condolences to his family, friends and students.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday expressed grief over the passing of legendary Indian shooter and high-performance coach Jaspal Rana and termed it a “profound loss to the world of Indian sports.”

Rana, who coached double Olympic medallist Manu Bhaker, passed away at a New Delhi hospital following medical complications at the age of 49.

Taking to social media platform X, PM Modi acknowledged Rana’s contributions to the nation both as an elite athlete and a mentor.

“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,” PM Modi wrote on X.

“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.”

“My thoughts are with his family, friends and the entire sporting fraternity in this hour of grief. Om Shanti,” the Prime Minister added.

While Rana’s coaching achievements earned widespread acclaim, his legacy as a shooter remains unparalleled. Born in 1976, he announced himself on the international stage by winning gold in the 25m Centre Fire Pistol event at the 1994 Asian Games. He went on to become one of India’s most decorated shooters, winning medals across the Asian Games, Commonwealth Games and other international competitions.

Rana remains one of India’s most successful Commonwealth Games athletes, winning 15 medals, including nine gold. His remarkable achievements earned him the Arjuna Award at the age of 18, followed by the Padma Shri three years later.

His most memorable performance came at the 2006 Asian Games in Doha, where he clinched three gold medals and set a world record in the 25m Centre Fire Pistol event. Rana represented India at four Commonwealth Games editions — 1994, 1998, 2002 and 2006 — leaving behind a lasting legacy as both a champion shooter and an influential coach.