Following his return to India, he was admitted to a hospital for further treatment but succumbed to his condition despite medical intervention. According to his brother, Subash Rana, he initially believed the discomfort was related to acidity and continued his travel schedule. However, the symptoms reappeared during his return journey to India, prompting immediate medical attention upon arrival in New Delhi.
Born in Uttarkashi, Uttarakhand, on 28 June 1976, Jaspal Rana established himself as one of India’s finest pistol shooters, with a competitive career spanning nearly two decades. He made a breakthrough on the international stage in 1994 when he won the junior world title in the 25 metre standard pistol event in Milan.
Rana went on to become one of India’s most successful shooters, securing 15 medals, including nine gold medals, across four editions of the Commonwealth Games between 1994 and 2006. His achievements extended to the Asian Games, where he won eight medals, including four gold medals, during the same period.
Heartbroken to hear about Jaspal Rana’s passing.
— Abhinav A. Bindra OLY (@Abhinav_Bindra) June 12, 2026
Jaspal was my teammate, and in many ways, part of a generation that helped shape Indian shooting. He was intense, gifted, and carried the pride of the country every time he stepped onto the range.
This is a huge loss for our…
His most notable performance came at the 2006 Asian Games in Doha, where he won three gold medals and equalled the then world record in the 25 metre centre fire pistol event, his signature discipline.
Rana received the Arjuna Award in 1994 and represented India at the 1996 Atlanta Olympic Games. In 1997, he was honoured with the Padma Shri, one of India’s highest civilian awards.
After retiring from competitive shooting, he transitioned into coaching and played a significant role in developing the career of shooter Manu Bhaker. He trained her between 2018 and 2021 and later rejoined her preparation team ahead of the Paris 2024 Olympic Games.
Under his guidance, Manu Bhaker became the first Indian athlete in the post-Independence era to win two medals at a single Olympic Games, securing bronze medals in the women’s 10 metre air pistol event and the mixed team 10 metre air pistol event in Paris.
In February last year, Rana was appointed India’s high performance coach for the 25 metre pistol discipline, a role in which he remained actively involved in nurturing emerging shooting talent until his final days.
His death marks the loss of one of India’s most accomplished marksmen, whose contributions as both an elite athlete and a mentor left a lasting impact on Indian shooting.
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