Rajnath Singh, CM Dhami pay tributes to shooting legend Jaspal Rana at Tehravin
Synopsis
Defence Minister Rajnath Singh and Uttarakhand CM Pushkar Singh Dhami attended the 13th-day memorial of shooting legend Jaspal Rana in Dehradun on 24 June. India's most decorated Commonwealth Games athlete — 15 medals, 9 gold — Rana also shaped the next generation of shooters, coaching Manu Bhaker and Saurabh Chaudhary before his death on 13 June.
Key Takeaways
Defence Minister Rajnath Singh and CM Pushkar Singh Dhami attended the Tehravin of Jaspal Rana at Majhaun, Dehradun on 24 June 2025 .
Jaspal Rana passed away in New Delhi on 13 June after battling health complications.
Rana won 15 Commonwealth Games medals — including 9 gold — across four editions, making him India's most successful Commonwealth Games athlete.
He also claimed 4 Asian Games gold medals and won the 1994 World Shooting Championships in Milan .
As a coach, Rana mentored top shooters including Manu Bhaker and Saurabh Chaudhary , and was serving as India's high-performance pistol coach at the time of his death.
Defence Minister Rajnath Singh and Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami on Wednesday, 24 June attended the Tehravin (13th-day memorial ceremony) of the late shooting legend Jaspal Rana at Majhaun in Dehradun, paying their respects to one of India's most decorated sportspersons. Rana, a Padma Shri and Dronacharya Award recipient, passed away in New Delhi on 13 June after battling health complications.
Tributes from the Defence Minister
Rajnath Singh met members of the bereaved family and offered his condolences, praying for the strength and courage of Rana's loved ones as they cope with an irreplaceable loss. He underlined that Rana had played a pivotal role in reshaping Indian shooting's identity on the global stage, and that his contributions to the sport would be remembered for years to come.
Chief Minister Dhami's Homage
Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami said Rana had brought immense pride and glory to both Uttarakhand and the nation through his outstanding performances at national and international levels. Dhami noted that Rana's legacy would serve as a lasting source of inspiration for future generations of athletes.
Leaders Who Attended the Ceremony
The memorial was attended by several prominent figures, including Uttar Pradesh Deputy Chief Minister Brajesh Pathak, Uttarakhand Ministers Saurabh Bahuguna and Khajan Das, Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) Members of Parliament Mahesh Sharma, Ajay Bhatt, and Sudhanshu Trivedi, and BJP MLA Pankaj Singh, among other dignitaries.
Jaspal Rana's Unmatched Legacy
Widely regarded as India's greatest pistol shooter, Rana's competitive career spanned more than three decades. He remains India's most successful athlete at the Commonwealth Games, having won 15 medals — including 9 gold — across four editions. At the Asian Games, he claimed 4 gold medals and 1 silver.
Rana secured a gold medal at the 1994 World Shooting Championships in Milan with a record-setting performance, and equalled the world record in the 25m Centre Fire Pistol event at the 2006 Doha Asian Games. After retiring from competition, he dedicated himself to coaching, nurturing top Indian shooters including Manu Bhaker and Saurabh Chaudhary. At the time of his passing, he was serving as India's high-performance coach for pistol events.
His death marks the end of an era for Indian shooting — a sport he helped elevate from relative obscurity to global recognition.
Point of View
A role that rarely commands the public recognition his competitive record deserved. His mentorship of Manu Bhaker, who delivered at the Paris Olympics, is perhaps his most enduring contribution — yet it is one that mainstream obituaries have underplayed. The real tribute to Rana would be a structured pistol-coaching pipeline that outlasts any individual, something Indian shooting still lacks.
NationPress
24 Jun 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Who was Jaspal Rana and why is he significant?
Jaspal Rana was a Padma Shri and Dronacharya Award-winning Indian pistol shooter and coach, widely regarded as the country's greatest in his discipline. He is India's most successful Commonwealth Games athlete, having won 15 medals including 9 gold across four editions.
When and how did Jaspal Rana pass away?
Jaspal Rana passed away on 13 June in New Delhi after battling health complications. He was undergoing treatment at a hospital in South Delhi at the time of his death.
What was the Tehravin ceremony held for Jaspal Rana?
The Tehravin is a 13th-day Hindu memorial ceremony observed after a person's death. Rana's Tehravin was held on 24 June at Majhaun in Dehradun, attended by Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, Uttarakhand CM Pushkar Singh Dhami, and several other political leaders.
What were Jaspal Rana's major achievements in shooting?
Rana won 15 Commonwealth Games medals including 9 gold across four editions, 4 Asian Games gold medals and 1 silver, and a gold at the 1994 World Shooting Championships in Milan. He also equalled the world record in the 25m Centre Fire Pistol event at the 2006 Doha Asian Games.
Which shooters did Jaspal Rana coach?
As a coach and mentor, Jaspal Rana played a key role in developing top Indian shooters including Manu Bhaker and Saurabh Chaudhary. At the time of his death, he was serving as India's high-performance coach for pistol events.
