Indian Shooting Coach Jaspal Rana Dies at 49

Jaspal Rana, a legendary Indian pistol shooter and one of the nation's most influential shooting coaches, died Friday in New Delhi. He was 49. His death followed a cardiac emergency that began while he was returning from the ISSF World Cup in Munich, Germany.

According to officials from the National Rifle Association of India (NRAI) and his family, Rana experienced chest discomfort during the flight back to India. Upon landing in New Delhi on Thursday, he was immediately admitted to Max Hospital in Saket, where doctors identified a cardiac blockage and performed a procedure to insert a stent. While initial reports indicated he was stable, his condition later deteriorated. He died on Friday morning.

Rana was serving as the high-performance coach for India's pistol shooters, a role he was officially appointed to in February 2025. His passing has sent shockwaves through the Indian sporting community, where he was revered for a career spanning over three decades as both a champion athlete and a transformative mentor.

As a competitor, Rana was one of India's most decorated shooters. He announced himself on the international stage in 1994, winning gold at the World Shooting...