Jaspal Rana, Asian Games gold medalist and Manu Bhaker’s coach, dies at 49

June 12, 2026

Veteran Indian shooter Jaspal Rana passed away on Friday. He was 49 years old. He had been admitted to Max Hospital, Saket, in Delhi. Kalikesh Narayan Singh Deo, President of the National Rifle Association of India (NRAI), confirmed his passing.

Jaspal fell ill on a flight while returning from Munich on the night of June 1st and received medical assistance during the journey. Upon arriving in Delhi, he was admitted to Max Hospital, Saket. Following medical tests, a stent was inserted into his heart.

Jaspal Rana was the coach of shooter Manu Bhaker, who won two medals at the Paris Olympics. He served as a coach for the junior team and as a high-performance trainer. He had been appointed as India’s high-performance coach for the 25m pistol event, effective February 2025.

As an athlete, Jaspal Rana won eight medals at the Asian Games, comprising four gold, two silver, and two bronze medals. He also won 15 medals at the Commonwealth Games, including nine gold, four silver, and two bronze medals.