Indian shooting star Manu Bhaker has shared a heartfelt tribute to her mentor, Jaspal Rana, who passed away unexpectedly at the age of 49. Bhaker, a double Olympic medallist who clinched two bronze medals at the Paris 2024 Olympics, described this loss as “irreparable damage,” noting that the shooting range will never feel the same without him. Rana, celebrated as one of India’s top pistol shooters and later a revered coach, was instrumental in shaping Bhaker’s journey in the sport. His untimely death has sent shockwaves through the Indian shooting community, prompting an outpouring of grief from athletes, officials, and sports enthusiasts nationwide.

Speaking to Olympics.com, Manu said that "The shooting range will never feel the same again. His voice, his advice, his presence - they were a part of my everyday life. It hurts to think that I won't see him standing there again."

In her recent interview, the Olympic medallist conveyed her sorrow and later shared cherished memories of her coach. The double olympic medal winner speaking about her coach Jaspal Rana said that "I still can't believe it. It is unbelievable news. I am struggling to process it. He was not just my coach, mentor or guide, but also a friend who understood me better than most people."

How Jaspal Rana Shaped Manu Bhaker’s Career

The contributions made by Jaspal Rana to the field of shooting in India did not confine to just himself only. The Indian sportsperson was a world junior champion, had participated in the Olympics, was an Asian Games gold medalist, and even bagged many international medals. However, later, he was known for being one of the greatest coaches for shooting in India. He played a very important role in guiding and mentoring Manu Bhaker through a phase in her life that proved to be extremely difficult for the sportsperson. They later went on to create history together in the Paris 2024 Olympics by winning two medals in the same Games.

Recollecting about the bond between her and Coach Jaspal Rana, she said, "There were times when he was strict, and there were times when he simply listened, He always wanted the best from me, even when I did not understand it at the time. Looking back now, every lesson he taught me had a purpose."

On the other hand, Rana was heavily invested in the game until the last few days of his life. He had been hospitalized to undergo heart stents after complaining of pain in his chest while competing at the ISSF World Cup in Munich. However, despite the treatment, he died at the tender age of 49, making the entire Indian shooting community grieve over him. His legacy lives on through the athletes that he has coached and the exemplary benchmarks that he has established as a coach. Talking about his legacy, Bhaker said that every medal or podium win will make her think of him all her life.