‘His dedication will inspire generations’: Murmu President Abhinav Bindra pays tribute to Jaspal Rana after his death at 49

NEW DELHI: President Droupadi Murmu and Olympic champion Abhinav Bindra led an outpouring of grief from across the country after the death of legendary shooter and coach Jaspal Rana on Friday, with tributes paid to the man widely regarded as one of the architects of India’s shooting rise on the global stage.Rana, a former Asian and Commonwealth Games gold medalist and one of India’s most decorated pistol shooters, died of heart-related complications at a Delhi hospital on Thursday evening. He was 49.Describing his demise as a huge loss for Indian sports, President Murmu said his legacy will continue to inspire future generations.“The news of the demise of Shri Jaspal Rana Ji is extremely saddened. He was a renowned shooter whose exceptional performances brought glory to the nation,” the president wrote on X. “A multiple medal winner in world shooting competitions, he established himself as an icon of Indian sports. As an athlete and mentor, he made a lasting contribution in nurturing young talent. His sportsmanship, discipline and commitment to excellence will continue.”She also expressed her condolences to Rana’s family, friends and the sports community.

Abhinav Bindra remembers a teammate and pioneer

India’s first Olympic gold medalist Abhinav Bindra said he was heartbroken at the loss of a teammate who played a key role in shaping India’s shooting.“I was heartbroken to hear of the passing of Jaspal Rana. Jaspal was my teammate and in many ways part of a generation that helped shape Indian shooting. He was intense, gifted and carried the country proud every time he stepped on the range,” Bindra wrote. “This is a huge loss for our sport. My condolences to his family, friends, students and everyone whose lives he touched.”Prime Minister Narendra Modi also mourned Rana’s death, calling it a “deep loss to the world of Indian sports”.“He brought immense glory to the nation with his extraordinary achievements in shooting. Equally remarkable was his contribution as a mentor who molded and guided young sportsmen with great commitment,” the Prime Minister wrote.Sports Minister Mansukh Mandaviya called Rana an “Indian shooting legend” and praised his contribution as both a champion athlete and a mentor.

Sports fraternity pays emotional tribute

Olympic medalist boxer Vijender Singh also attended X to pay tribute to Rana.“Deeply saddened by the sudden demise of Jaspal Rana ji. His extraordinary contributions to Indian shooting, both as a master sportsman and as a mentor, inspired generations of sportsmen. Indian sports has lost a true legend. Respect Bhaisab,” Vijender wrote.London Olympics silver medalist Vijay Kumar recalled his long association with Rana during the Asian and Commonwealth Games.“It is a huge loss for the sport and the country. He was also a good coach. I am shocked,” Vijay Kumar told PTI.Former world No.1 double trap shooter Ronjan Sodhi called the news “very shocking” and remembered Rana as a close friend and a pioneer who showed Indian shooters how to conquer the world stage.“He was the first person to show us how to win on the world stage after his performances in the 1994 Asian Games,” Sodhi told PTI.After an illustrious competitive career, Rana turned to coaching and was involved in the development of a generation of Indian stars, including Manu Bhaker, Saurabh Chaudhary, Anish Bhanwal and Chinki Yadav.A 2020 Dronacharya Award recipient, Rana was serving as the high-performance coach of India’s pistol shooters at the time of his death.His achievements as a master shot won him admiration, but it was his work as a mentor that cemented his position as one of the most influential figures in Indian sport.