Olympic medalist Manu Bhaker’s coach Jaspal Rana hospitalized after falling ill on flight from Munich

Manu Bhaker with his personal trainer Jaspal Rana (PTI Photo) NEW DELHI: Noted Indian shooting coach Jaspal Rana fell ill while returning from the ISSF World Championship in Munich and later underwent a medical procedure in Delhi. Having coached several Indian pistol shooters, including two-time Olympic medalist Manu Bhaker, Rana is currently a high-powered coach in Indian pistol competitions. The Indian contingent has just concluded a successful campaign at the World Championships, winning four medals, including two gold and two silver. However, concerns were raised when Rana reportedly felt unwell during the flight back to India.“Yes, he (Jaspal) did not feel well during the flight and after landing in Delhi, he went straight to the hospital where he underwent tests and then got his stent repaired,” a National Rifle Association of India (NRAI) source told PTI on Friday.Rana has been one of the most influential figures in Indian shooting in the last decade. After a distinguished career as a shooter, he moved into coaching and played a major role in shaping the country’s next generation of shooting stars.His most notable achievement was mentoring Bhaker, who made history by winning two bronze medals at the Paris Olympics. Rana has also guided several other top scorers including Saurabh Chaudhary, Anish Bhanwala and Chinki Yadav to help build a strong talent pool for India.Having served as the junior national coach since 2012, Rana has earned a reputation for implementing training methods designed to replicate the pressure of major international competitions. The NRAI recognized his contribution and appointed him as the High Performance Coach for the 25m Pistol event in February 2025.His impact on Indian shooting was further recognized when he received the prestigious Dronacharya Award in 2020 for excellence in coaching and athlete development. Rana remains a central figure in the Indian shooting set-up and has been credited with helping the country become a global force in pistol events.