Indian shooting suffered a huge loss on Thursday night as one of the most influential figures in the sport, Jaspal Rana, died at the age of 49. Rana passed away in a Delhi hospital after a recent medical procedure due to health complications, said officials of the National Rifle Association of India (NRAI). Rana fell reportedly sick during the return journey from ISSF World Cup in Munich, Germany where Indian shooting contingent performed well. At the time of his death, he was the high-performance coach of India’s pistol shooters. He may be best remembered in the sporting world for his medals and coaching success but Rana also came from a family with a rich sporting and public life.Who Was Jaspal Rana?Born on June 28, 1976, in Uttarakhand, Jaspal Rana became one of India's most successful pistol shooters. He earned national recognition at a young age and went on to dominate several international competitions during the 1990s and early 2000s.Also Read: Jaspal Rana Death Reason: What happened to Asian Games gold medalist, renowned shooter and Manu Bhaker's coach?Over the course of his career, Rana won multiple medals at major events, including the Asian Games and Commonwealth competitions. His achievements helped establish India as a growing force in shooting sports.After retiring from active competition, he transitioned into coaching and played a major role in shaping India's next generation of shooters.Jaspal Rana's Father Narayan Singh Rana and Sporting FamilyJaspal Rana's introduction to shooting came through his father, Narayan Singh Rana, a war veteran who later became the first Sports Minister of Uttarakhand after the state's formation in 2000.His father was also his first coach and played a crucial role in building his shooting career.The family shared a strong sporting background. His sister, Sushma Singh Rana, and brother, Subhash Rana, are both accomplished shooters. Sushma is also related to the family of senior BJP leader Rajnath Singh through marriage.Jaspal Rana's Wife Aarushie VermaRana was married to Aarushie Verma, an environmentalist, interior designer and national-level shooter. Apart from her achievements in shooting, Aarushie gained recognition for her work in environmental conservation. She represented India in the Climate Force Antarctica Expedition, an international sustainability initiative focused on climate change awareness and environmental protection.A multiple state champion and national medalist in shooting disciplines, Aarushie built her own identity beyond the sporting achievements of her husband.Jaspal Rana's ex-wife Reena RanaBefore marrying Aarushie Verma, Jaspal Rana was married to Reena Rana, a fashion designer and national-level shooter. Although Reena largely remained away from the public spotlight, she was known in shooting circles and was actively involved in the sport during her competitive years.Publicly available biographical records identify Reena as the mother of Jaspal Rana's two children.Jaspal Rana's daughter and son: Daughter Devanshi and Son YuvrajJaspal Rana had two children from his earlier marriage to Reena Rana — daughter Devanshi Rana and son Yuvraj Rana.Like her father, Devanshi chose shooting as her sport and emerged as a promising talent. She represented India at junior competitions and attracted attention after winning gold in the women's 25m pistol event at the Khelo India Youth Games.Information about Yuvraj Rana has remained largely private, as the family generally stayed away from media attention.Jaspal Rana's Achievements: From Champion Shooter to Coach of Manu BhakerFollowing his retirement from competitive shooting, Rana became one of the most respected coaches in Indian sport. He served as junior national coach before taking over larger responsibilities within the national setup. His coaching methods focused heavily on mental strength and competition-like training environments.Several of India's leading shooters benefited from his guidance, including Manu Bhaker, Saurabh Chaudhary, Anish Bhanwala and Chinki Yadav.Also Read: Jaspal Rana, Manu Bhaker's mentor, Indian shooting stalwart passes away at 49His contribution was particularly visible during the Paris Olympics, where Manu Bhaker scripted history with a double-bronze medal performance.In February 2025, the NRAI appointed him as the High-Performance Coach for the 25m pistol discipline.Jaspal Rana's Major AwardsJaspal Rana's contribution to Indian shooting extended across two decades as an athlete and coach. Some of his major achievements include:Asian Games Gold Medal – Men's 25m Centre Fire Pistol, 1994 Hiroshima Asian Games Gold Medal – Men's 25m Standard Pistol, 2006 Doha Asian Games Gold Medal – Men's 25m Centre Fire Pistol, 2006 Doha Asian Games Equalled the world record score of 590 points while winning the 25m Centre Fire Pistol gold at the 2006 Asian Games. Commonwealth Games Jaspal Rana remains one of India's most successful Commonwealth Games athletes. His Commonwealth Games tally: 9 Gold Medals 4 Silver Medals 2 Bronze Medals A total of 15 Commonwealth Games medals across the 1994, 1998, 2002 and 2006 editions. Some notable Commonwealth Games gold medals include: Men's Centre Fire Pistol – 1998 Men's Centre Fire Pistol Pairs – 1998 Men's 25m Centre Fire Pistol – 2002 Men's 25m Centre Fire Pistol Pairs – 2006 (with Samaresh Jung) World Championships Won multiple medals at ISSF World Championships. Famously won a World Championship gold medal while equalling a world record despite competing after a medical emergency, a story often cited as one of the most remarkable moments of his career. Jaspal Rana: National Honours and Awards Arjuna Award (1994) Rana received the prestigious Arjuna Award at just 18 years of age following his early international success, making him one of the youngest recipients of the award. Padma Shri (1997) The Government of India honoured him with the Padma Shri, the country's fourth-highest civilian award, for his contribution to Indian shooting. Dronacharya Award (2020) After successfully mentoring a new generation of shooters, including Manu Bhaker and Saurabh Chaudhary, Rana was conferred with the Dronacharya Award, India's highest coaching honour. Uttarakhand Gaurav Samman (2025) He was also awarded the Uttarakhand Gaurav Samman, one of Uttarakhand's highest civilian honours, in recognition of his contribution to sports. Jaspal Rana's influence on Indian shooting went far beyond the medals he won. As an athlete, he brought international recognition to the sport. As a coach, he helped create a pipeline of talent that continues to deliver results for India on the world stage.His death marks the end of an important chapter in Indian shooting, but his legacy will live on through the athletes he trained and the standards he set for future generations.