He is survived by his wife, Reena Rana; daughter Devanshi; son Yuvraj; father Narayan Singh Rana; and siblings Sushma Singh and Subhash Rana.
As per the statement from Kalikesh Narayan Singh Deo, president of the National Rifle Association of India (NRAI), Rana succumbed at a hospital in Delhi on Thursday night (June 11). It is reported that heart-related complications were the cause of his death.
Rana’s unforeseen passing has left the shooting community in shock.
He had recently undergone a medical procedure after becoming unwell on the Indian team’s flight back from the ISSF World Cup in Munich, Germany.
Upon arriving in New Delhi, he was admitted to the hospital, where a stent was placed to alleviate a cardiac blockage. Despite initial stability, sources noted that his health worsened.
Rana was actively serving as the high-performance coach for Indian pistol shooters.
The former shooter, noted for his bold personality and deep commitment to the sport, showcased incredible talent, winning his first national gold medal at merely 12 years old.
His international acclaim began with gold medals in the 25m pistol event at the 1994 Commonwealth Games and the Asian Games.
Notably, the Asian Games gold marked India’s first in shooting at the event in 16 years, following Raja Randhir Singh’s win in 1978. Randhir had recently passed away after facing age-related health issues.
Rana’s pinnacle as a competitor was during the 2006 Asian Games, where he claimed three gold medals and a silver, achieving a remarkable performance that included equalling the existing world record.
Following a distinguished career as an elite shooter, Rana played a transformative role in Indian shooting as a junior national team coach and high-performance trainer.
His most notable coaching success was mentoring Manu Bhaker, assisting her in securing two bronze medals at the 2024 Paris Olympics, making her the first Indian to accomplish this feat.
Since 2012, as a junior pistol coach, he also nurtured emerging stars like Saurabh Chaudhary, Anish Bhanwala, and Chinki Yadav.
His contributions to the junior program established a robust pipeline of international talent, leaving a lasting mark on the sport.
The NRAI formally appointed him as the High-Performance coach for the 25m pistol event in February of the previous year.
A disciplined taskmaster, Rana is recognized for implementing demanding training regimes that closely mirrored the intensity of real Olympic competition.
In recognition of his significant influence on the sport and the nurturing of the next generation of shooters, he was honored with the esteemed Dronacharya Award by the government in 2020.
He is celebrated as India’s most successful Commonwealth Games athlete, having secured 15 medals, including nine golds, across four editions.
