New Delhi, June 12 (IANS) Home Minister Amit Shah has expressed his grief on the sudden demise of Jaspal Rana and said the passing of the legendary shooter and coach is an “irreparable loss to the nation”. 

Rana, a multi-time Asian Games gold medallist who later transitioned into one of India’s most successful high-performance coaches, passed away on Friday at the age of 49, leaving the entire Indian sporting fraternity in deep shock.

“Deeply saddened by the demise of legendary sportsperson Jaspal Rana Ji. He dedicated his life to establishing India’s indomitable mettle in shooting by winning international honours for the nation and by nurturing young shooters as a coach. Rana Ji’s passing is an irreparable loss to the nation. At this moment of grief, I extend heartfelt condolences to his family and millions of admirers,” Amit Shah posted on X.

Awarded the Arjuna Award in 1994 and the Padma Shri in 1997 for his contributions to Indian sports, Rana was a trailblazer for Indian shooting in the 1990s. He dominated the pistol events at the Commonwealth Games and the Asian Games, famously winning gold medals at the 1994 Hiroshima and 2006 Doha Asian Games.

After hanging up his gun, Rana dedicated his life to coaching, becoming the architect behind India’s modern pistol shooting revolution. He mentored several world-class shooters, most notably Olympic medal winner Manu Bhaker, guiding her to podium finishes on the global stage, which includes the historic double bronze medal finish at Paris Olympics 2024.

Recognised for his excellence in coaching, Rana received the Dronacharya Award in 2020, India’s highest honour for sports coaching.

Condolences have been pouring in from across the sporting fraternity and political spectrum as Uttarakhand CM Pushkar Singh Dhami, India Olympic Association chief PT Usha and Indian men’s cricket team head coach Gautam Gambhir paid tribute to the renowned coach.

“Saddened by the devastating news of our shooting champion Jaspal Rana ji. He brought innumerable laurels to our country, first as an athlete & then by mentoring our Olympic champions. We have lost a wonderful person. May his family find strength to bear this loss!” PT Usha posted on X.

Uttarakhand CM Dhami said, “The news of the sudden demise of Shri Jaspal Rana Ji—the son of the sacred land of Uttarakhand, recipient of the Padma Shri award, and the pride of Indian shooting—is deeply painful.

“His extraordinary contribution to the field of shooting, historic achievements, and the inspiration he provided to young athletes made India proud on the global stage. His personality and work will always remain a source of inspiration for generations to come. His passing is an irreparable loss to the sports world, Uttarakhand, and the entire nation.

“I pray to God to grant eternal peace to the departed holy soul at His holy feet and to give strength to the grieving family members, well-wishers, and countless fans to bear this immense sorrow.”

Gautam Gambhir wrote, “Shri Jaspal Rana was a stalwart of Indian Sports. His passing has left a huge void. Om Shanti.”

Five-time Olympian and Beijing Olympic gold medallist rifle shooter Abhinav Bindra said, “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. This is a huge loss for our sport. My deepest condolences to his family, friends, students and everyone whose life he touched.”

–IANS

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