NEW DELHI: President Droupadi Murmu and Olympic champion Abhinav Bindra led an outpouring of grief from across the country on Friday following the death of legendary shooter and coach Jaspal Rana, with tributes pouring in for a man widely regarded as one of the architects of Indian shooting’s rise on the global stage.Rana, a former Asian Games and Commonwealth Games gold medallist and one of India’s most decorated pistol shooters, passed away at a Delhi hospital on Thursday night due to heart-related complications. He was 49.President Murmu described his demise as a huge loss to Indian sport and said his legacy would continue to inspire future generations.“The news of the passing of Shri Jaspal Rana Ji is extremely sad. He was a renowned shooter whose exceptional performances brought glory to the nation,” the President wrote on X. “A winner of several medals at global shooting competitions, he established himself as an icon of Indian sports. As an athlete and mentor, he made a lasting contribution by nurturing young talent. His dedication, discipline and commitment to excellence will continue to inspire generations of sportspersons.“She also conveyed her condolences to Rana’s family, friends and the sporting community.
Abhinav Bindra remembers teammate and trailblazer
India’s first individual Olympic gold medallist Abhinav Bindra said he was heartbroken by the loss of a teammate who played a pivotal role in shaping Indian shooting.“Heartbroken to hear about Jaspal Rana’s passing. 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,” Bindra posted. “This is a huge loss for our sport. My deepest condolences to his family, friends, students and everyone whose life he touched.”Prime Minister Narendra Modi also mourned Rana’s death, calling it “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,” the Prime Minister wrote.Sports Minister Mansukh Mandaviya termed Rana an “Indian shooting legend” and hailed his contributions both as a champion athlete and a mentor.
Sporting fraternity pays emotional tribute
Olympic medallist boxer Vijender Singh also took to X to pay tribute to Rana.“Deeply saddened by the sudden demise of Jaspal Rana ji. His extraordinary contributions to Indian shooting, both as a champion athlete and a mentor, inspired generations of sportspersons. Indian sports has lost a true legend.. Respect Bhaisab,” Vijender wrote.London Olympics silver medallist Vijay Kumar recalled his long association with Rana during the Asian Games and Commonwealth Games.“It’s a huge loss for the sport and the country. He was a good coach too. I am shocked,” Vijay Kumar told PTI.Former world No. 1 double trap shooter Ronjan Sodhi called the news “very shocking” and remembered Rana as a close friend and a pioneer who showed Indian shooters how to conquer the world stage.“He was the first person who showed us how to win on the world stage following his exploits at the 1994 Asian Games,” Sodhi told PTI.After an illustrious competitive career, Rana devoted himself to coaching and was instrumental in developing a generation of Indian stars, including Manu Bhaker, Saurabh Chaudhary, Anish Bhanwala and Chinki Yadav.A Dronacharya Award recipient in 2020, Rana was serving as the high-performance coach for Indian pistol shooters at the time of his death.His achievements as a champion shooter earned him admiration, but it was his work as a mentor that cemented his status as one of Indian sport’s most influential figures.
