NEW DELHI: India’s well-known shooting coach Jaspal Rana fell ill while returning from the ISSF World Cup in Munich and later underwent a medical procedure in Delhi. Rana, who coaches several Indian pistol shooters, including double Olympic medallist Manu Bhaker, is currently the high-performance coach for Indian pistol events. The Indian contingent had just wrapped up a successful campaign at the World Cup, winning four medals, including two gold and two silver. However, concerns emerged when Rana reportedly felt unwell during the flight back to India.“Yes, he (Jaspal) was not feeling well in the flight and after landing in Delhi, he went straight to the hospital where he underwent tests and then got a stent fixed,” a source in the National Rifle Association of India (NRAI) told PTI on Friday.Rana has been one of the most influential figures in Indian shooting over the last decade. Following a distinguished career as a shooter, he moved into coaching and played a major role in shaping the country’s next generation of pistol stars.His most notable success has been mentoring Bhaker, who made history by winning two bronze medals at the Paris Olympics. Rana has also guided several other top shooters, including Saurabh Chaudhary, Anish Bhanwala and Chinki Yadav, helping build a strong talent pipeline for India.Having served as a junior national coach since 2012, Rana earned a reputation for introducing training methods designed to replicate the pressure of major international competitions. Recognising his contribution, the NRAI appointed him as the high-performance coach for the 25m pistol discipline in February 2025.His impact on Indian shooting was further acknowledged when he received the prestigious Dronacharya Award in 2020 for excellence in coaching and athlete development. Rana remains a central figure in India’s shooting setup and has been credited with helping the country emerge as a global force in pistol events.
