PM Modi mourns Jaspal Rana’s demise, hails his extraordinary contribution to Indian shooting

Prime Minister Narendra Modi mourned the demise of former Indian shooter and renowned coach Jaspal Rana, who died in New Delhi at the age of 49 after battling cardiac complications. He breathed his last at Max Hospital in Saket, South Delhi, where he had been admitted for treatment.

Taking to X, PM Modi paid tribute to the shooting legend and expressed his condolences.

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

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

Rana was admitted to the hospital after reportedly falling ill while returning from the ISSF World Cup in Munich. He underwent a stent procedure to treat a cardiac blockage in Delhi and was said to be recovering well before his sudden demise.

The Indian shooting legend was also the coach and mentor of Olympic double medallist Manu Bhaker, along with several other prominent Indian shooters. His death comes as a major blow to Indian shooting, where he played a transformative role both as an athlete and a coach.

Also Read: Jaspal Rana, Indian shooting legend and Manu Bhaker’s mentor, dies at 49

A decorated career spanning more than three decades

One of India’s most decorated shooters, Rana leaves behind a remarkable legacy spanning more than three decades. He remains India’s most successful Commonwealth Games athlete, having won an extraordinary 15 medals – nine gold, four silver and two bronze – across the 1994, 1998, 2002 and 2006 editions of the Games.

His achievements extended well beyond the Commonwealth stage. Rana secured four gold medals and one silver at the Asian Games, including a gold medal at the 1994 Hiroshima Asian Games and a historic haul of three gold medals at the 2006 Doha Asian Games.

Known for his grit and determination, Rana famously won three gold medals in Doha despite competing with a high fever, a feat that remains one of the most celebrated achievements in Indian shooting history.

Mentor to Manu Bhaker and future champions

After retiring from competition, Rana devoted himself to coaching and talent development. As a junior national coach, he identified and nurtured several future stars, including Manu Bhaker and Saurabh Chaudhary.

Despite a widely publicised fallout with Bhaker before the Tokyo Olympics, the two later reunited, with Rana playing a key role in her successful campaign that culminated in two bronze medals at the Paris Olympics in 2024.

At the time of his death, Rana was serving as India’s high-performance coach for pistol events, leaving behind an enduring legacy as both a champion shooter and an inspirational mentor.