Indian shooting legend and acclaimed coach Jaspal Rana passed away on Thursday night at the age of 49, marking the end of an era for the sport in the country.
The former Asian Games gold medallist breathed his last at a Delhi hospital, National Rifle Association of India (NRAI) president Kalikesh Narayan Singh Deo confirmed.
Rana had recently suffered a medical emergency while returning from the ISSF World Cup in Munich, Germany, with the Indian contingent. After landing in New Delhi, he was rushed to hospital, where doctors performed a procedure to insert a stent.
Despite medical intervention, the celebrated shooter succumbed days later.
Who is Jaspal Rana?
One of India's most decorated shooters, Rana won multiple medals at the Asian Games and Commonwealth Games, including three gold medals at the 2006 Doha Asian Games.
Born on June 28, 1976, in Uttarakhand, Rana rose to prominence as one of India's finest pistol shooters.
He made his international breakthrough at a young age, winning gold at the 1994 Asian Games in Hiroshima and going on to become a dominant force in the sport for more than a decade.
Over the course of his career, Rana amassed numerous medals across the Asian Games, Commonwealth Games and Asian Championships, earning a reputation for his consistency and excellence in the 25m Centre Fire Pistol and Standard Pistol events.
After retiring from competitive shooting, Rana transitioned into coaching and played a key role in nurturing India's next generation of shooters.
His most notable coaching success came with Olympic medallist Manu Bhaker, whom he helped guide to international success.
Rana is also a recipient of the Arjuna Award, Padma Shri, and Dronacharya Award.
The shooting stalwart specialised in pistol events and was particularly dominant in the 25m Centre Fire Pistol discipline.
His consistency, technical excellence and ability to perform under pressure made him a formidable competitor on the international circuit.
During a period when shooting was still developing as a mainstream sport in India, Rana's success helped raise the profile of the discipline and inspired many young athletes to take up the sport.
