Varanasi (Uttar Pradesh) [India], June 13 (ANI): The final rites of Indian shooting legend and coach Jaspal Rana were conducted at the revered Manikarnika Ghat in Varanasi on Saturday.
Rana, a Dronacharya Award-winning coach and an Arjuna Award and Padma Shri recipient, passed away in New Delhi on Friday following prolonged health issues. He was admitted to Max Hospital in Saket, South Delhi, where he breathed his last. The 49-year-old's body was first taken to his Dehradun residence on Friday night and later transported to Manikarnika Ghat on Saturday.
Notably, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh's son, Pankaj Singh, also shouldered Rana's mortal remains during the funeral procession.
One of India's most decorated shooters, Rana leaves behind an extraordinary legacy spanning over three decades. He remains India's most successful Commonwealth Games athlete, with an incredible 15 medals—nine gold, four silver, and two bronze—across the 1994, 1998, 2002, and 2006 editions.
His achievements extended far beyond the Commonwealth stage. Rana claimed four gold medals and one silver at the Asian Games, including a gold at the 1994 Hiroshima Asian Games and a historic haul of three gold medals at the 2006 Doha Asian Games.
At the 1994 World Shooting Championships in Milan, he secured gold while setting a record score. He also equalled the world record in the 25m Centre Fire Pistol event with an aggregate score of 590 during 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.
After retiring from competition, Rana dedicated 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 publicized fallout with Bhaker before the Tokyo Olympics, the two later reconciled, with Rana playing a pivotal 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. His contributions as both a champion shooter and mentor have left an indelible mark on Indian sport.
