India's shooting legend Jaspal Rana dies aged 49

India's most successful athlete in Commonwealth Games history, shooter Jaspal Rana who coached double Olympics medallist Manu Bhaker, passed away on June 12.

Rana was hospitalised after he fell ill on the flight returning from the ISSF World Cup in Munich. He underwent a medical procedure to fix a stent as he was experience chest pain. The legendary shooter couldn't recover and took his last breath on June 12 evening in a Delhi hospital.

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"He experienced chest pain and discomfort during the ISSF World Cup in Munich, which he initially mistook for acidity, and continued with his travel plans. However, the discomfort returned during the journey back to India, prompting immediate medical attention upon his arrival in Delhi," his brother Subash Rana told the media.

The Indian contingent had won four medals, including two gold and two silver at Rana's last stint as coach.

Jaspal Rana's stellar career that spanned over a decade

An 18-year-old Rana won a gold medal in 1994 Hiroshima Asian Games in 25m center fire pistol category. He was honoured with the Arjuna Award in the same year. He won two gold medals and a silver in Commonwealth Games Victoria 1994. In 1995, he followed it up with a gold medal in Asian Championships' 25 metre standard pistol event. In 1997, he was conferred with Padma Shri at the age of 21.

He won two gold medals in CWG 1998 Kuala Kumpur, one silver and a bronze in Bangkok Asian Games 1998. In 2002 Manchester CWG, he went on a gold medal-winning spree. He won as many as four gold medals and a silver at the event. In Doha Asian Games 2006, he won three gold medals and a silver. At the event, he also equalled the world record in 25 m center fire pistol. Overall, he has won 15 medals in CWG history which includes nine gold, four silver and two bronze.

Rana's coaching career spans over a decade too

Rana's coaching career started in 2012. Later, he went on to become Manu's pistol coach. He helped the double Olympics bronze medallist prepare. In 2020, he has honoured with Dronacharya Award.