Double Olympic medallist Manu Bhaker paid an emotional tribute to her coach Jaspal Rana following his death on Thursday, describing the former shooter as a mentor, guide and friend whose influence shaped both her career and life.
One of the most accomplished Indian shooters, Rana had recently undergone a stent procedure after suffering chest discomfort late in May. He was admitted to a hospital but passed away despite treatment. He was 49.
Speaking from Dehradun, where Jaspal Rana’s mortal remains were brought, Manu Bhaker said she was struggling to come to terms with the loss of the man who guided her through some of the most defining moments of her career.
“I still can’t believe it,” Manu told Olympics.com on Friday. “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.”
Jaspal Rana was one of India’s greatest shooters, winning several medals across the Commonwealth and Asian Games, including 13 golds. A world junior champion, Olympian and Padma Shri awardee, he later became a renowned coach.
Jaspal Rana played a pivotal role, in particular, in Manu Bhaker’s development as a shooter, helping her navigate both success and adversity during a partnership that ultimately produced one of Indian sport’s most remarkable comeback stories.
The bond they shared went far beyond the shooting range.
“There were times when he was strict, and there were times when he simply listened,” Manu recalled. “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.”
Their bond endured periods of both triumph and difficulty. After a highly publicised split before the Tokyo 2020 Olympics, many believed their partnership had come to an end.
Yet fate had other plans.
Slowly, trust was rebuilt. Conversations resumed. The joy of shooting returned.
“When we started working together again, it felt like coming home,” Manu said. “He knew when I was confident, when I was nervous and when I needed support. He always found a way to bring out the best in me.”
Under Rana’s guidance, Manu rediscovered her confidence and belief before going on to become the first Indian, post independence, to win two medals at a single Olympic Games at Paris 2024.
Those achievements, she says, will forever bear her coach’s imprint.
“Every medal, every success, every moment on the podium will always remind me of him,” Manu said. “A part of those victories belongs to him because he never stopped believing in me, even during the most difficult phases of my career.”
As tributes poured in from across the sporting world, Manu said the absence of Rana would be felt deeply in her daily life.
“The shooting range will never feel the same again,” she said. “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.”
For Indian shooting, Jaspal Rana leaves behind a legacy of champions and a generation of athletes inspired by his relentless pursuit of excellence.
For Manu Bhaker, however, the loss is deeply personal.
“He taught me how to fight, how to stay grounded and how to never give up,” she said. “The lessons he gave me will stay with me forever”.
“It was discipline and commitment that he taught me every single day,” Manu Bhaker summed up Jaspal Rana’s impact.
READ MORE: https://www.olympics.com/en/news/jaspal-rana-india-shooting-coach-dies-manu-bhaker-reaction
