Saji Chacko
NEW DELHI:
Jaspal Rana was one of the most influential figures in the history of Indian shooting. The 49-year old who tragically died in Delhi following heart problems on June 12 was the one who put India on the world shooting map before anyone else.
His contribution to the sport extends beyond just a champion shooter; since he also played a crucial role in shaping the next generation of Indian shooters as a coach. Through his dedication, discipline, and commitment to excellence, Rana significantly contributed to the growth and success of shooting as a major sports in India.
As a player, Jaspal Rana established himself as one of India’s finest pistol shooters. Born on June 28, 1976, in Uttarakhand, he showed exceptional talent at a young age. Specializing in the 25-meter center-fire pistol and other pistol events, he quickly rose to prominence in national and international competitions. Rana gained widespread recognition when he won a gold medal at the 1994 Asian Games in Hiroshima, becoming one of the youngest Indian shooters to achieve such a feat. His remarkable performance marked the beginning of a distinguished career.
Throughout his career, Jaspal won numerous medals at the Asian Games, Commonwealth Games, Asian Championships, and South Asian Games. He secured over 600 medals in national and international competitions, including several gold medals. His achievements helped establish India as a competitive force in shooting at a time when the sport was not as popular or well-supported as it is today. By consistently performing at the highest level, Rana inspired many young athletes to take up shooting and demonstrated that Indians could succeed on the global stage.
One of Rana’s most significant contributions as a player was his role in popularizing shooting sports in India. During the 1990s and early 2000s, shooting received relatively little public attention compared to sports like cricket. His achievements laid the foundation for India’s future success in international shooting competitions, including the Olympics.
After retiring from active competition, Jaspal Rana continued to serve Indian shooting as a coach and mentor. His transition from athlete to coach allowed him to share his vast experience and technical expertise with young shooters.
As a coach, Rana is best known for mentoring several talented shooters, including Manu Bhaker, one of India’s most successful young pistol shooters. Under his guidance, Bhaker achieved outstanding results at international competitions and emerged as a leading figure in Indian shooting. Rana’s coaching philosophy emphasized discipline, mental strength, technical precision, and continuous improvement.
Rana also served in coaching roles with the National Rifle Association of India (NRAI) and contributed to the development of India’s shooting ecosystem. He worked to improve training methods, introduce scientific approaches to performance enhancement, and create a professional environment for athletes. His experience as an elite shooter enabled him to provide practical insights that greatly benefited his trainees.
Jaspal Rana’s legacy was not merely reflected by the medals he won but also in the athletes he trained and the lasting impact he had on the development of shooting in India.
Run-ins of outspoken shooter
Jaspal Rana, one of India’s most successful shooters and a renowned coach, was involved in some controversies during his career. His outspoken nature often brought him into conflict with sports administrators and fellow professionals. He earned a reputation for speaking openly about issues in Indian shooting, which sometimes led to disagreements with governing bodies.
One of the most publicized controversies involved his relationship with Olympic medal-winning shooter Manu Bhaker. Jaspal had coached Bhaker from quite an early age, but differences emerged between them around 2021, leading to a temporary split. Although both later reconciled and worked together again before the Paris Olympics, the episode remained a major talking point in Indian sports.
Another controversy occurred in early 2024 when Rana alleged that he had been asked to leave Delhi’s Karni Singh Shooting Range by the NRAI’s high-performance director.
Rana was involved in yet another unsavoury incident in 2019, when he was dropped as National coach. This incident happened a couple of weeks before the World Cup and a bitter Rana openly criticized the shooting body for removing him without any prior notification.