Jaspal Rana — Gone too soon

Boria Majumdar

The Olympic shooting competition had just ended in Tokyo in August 2021 and the talking point was a vert public spat between Manu Bhaker and Jaspal Rana. Bhaker, tipped to win a medal with Saurabh Chaudhary, wasn’t able to do it, and was the subject of incessant trolling and online abuse. For an 18-year-old, it was a nightmare.

Jaspal, on the other hand, wasn’t coaching many and it was an unpleasant situation for everyone around. We needed someone to show maturity and get the two together. The athlete and the coach needed to be together for India, for only then could Paris happen. Sense prevailed and finally a year-and-a-half later, Manu and Jaspal sorted things out and forged a partnership. That partnership went on to give India two medals and was on the cusp of a third, eventually losing it to a shootout. And let me say this, it promised many more until tragedy struck and India lost Jaspal to a cardiac arrest.

Jaspal and I are of the same age. He was three months younger and the truth is this is no age to go. I was stunned as everyone else when I first heard the news and may I say it is a huge loss for the Indian sports fraternity. Not only was he a prodigy as a shooter, he was also a fantastic coach as was evident in Paris when he coached Manu to Olympic glory. It was the true Guru-Shishya Parampara that worked and the blind belief in each other’s ability was the stand out feature of this relationship.

Post-Tokyo, Manu wasn’t enjoying the sport. Talent she always had, what she was lacking was single-minded focus. She needed someone to steer the course and that’s where Jaspal came in. From contemplating retirement to teaming up with Jaspal, it all changed for Manu.

“We had set out to achieve something special for India. I am happy we won two bronze medals and just missed out on a third. But she shot well and everyone must feel proud of the effort. When you stand on that line and fire a shoot-off, I can’t really explain what goes through your mind. All I can say is it is not easy. Also, I am glad she agreed to train for LA28 so that’s what it will be all about in some weeks from now,” Jaspal had said soon after Paris was over.

He was, in fact, all set to come to the Trailblazers Conclave in 2025 with Manu but a last minute emergency put paid to it. Manu was there and spoke at length about Jaspal.

For India, Manu and Jaspal were yet again on a quest. The journey to LA28. Now Manu will have to do it for Jaspal and ensure that he watches her from heaven and feels every bit the pride.

I last met him at the IIC in Delhi. We spoke at length and one could sense focus. Jaspal had a lot of offer to Indian shooting and Indian sport is poorer today.

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