New Delhi: As the countdown to the 2026 Commonwealth Games in Glasgow begins, India is preparing to send a strong 126 member athletic contingent with hopes of topping the medal table. Since its debut in 1934, India has secured 564 medals at this mega sporting event. However, the most successful Indian athlete in the history of these games remains the legendary pistol shooter Jaspal Rana, who tragically passed away last month.
Rana holds the untouchable individual record of winning 15 medals across four Commonwealth Games appearances from 1994 to 2006. His extraordinary tally includes an impressive nine gold, four silver, and two bronze medals. Till date, no other Indian athlete has managed to match or surpass this monumental achievement.
His golden journey started at the 1994 Victoria Games, where he made a stunning debut by winning gold in both the individual and pair events of the center fire pistol, alongside a silver and a bronze in the 10 meter air pistol categories. At the 1998 Kuala Lumpur edition, Rana continued his dominance, defending his gold medals in the center fire pistol events while adding two more silver medals to his name.
The 2002 Manchester Games proved to be the pinnacle of his career. Rana showcased exceptional marksmanship, bagging four gold medals across the 25 meter standard pistol and center fire pistol events, along with a silver and a bronze. He concluded his glorious Commonwealth journey at the 2006 Melbourne Games, adding a final bronze in the men’s center fire pistol event before stepping away from the CWG stage.
Tragically, the Indian shooting fraternity lost this stalwart on June 12, 2026, due to a fatal heart attack. Rana’s health deteriorated mid flight while returning with the Indian shooting squad from the ISSF World Cup in Munich, Germany. Upon landing in New Delhi, he was rushed to a hospital where doctors performed emergency surgery to remove heart blockages, but he breathed his last a few days later.
Beyond his own athletic brilliance, Rana was also instrumental in shaping the next generation of shooters. He served as the personal coach to Indian shooting star Manu Bhaker, guiding her to two historic bronze medals at the Paris Olympics. His legacy will undoubtedly inspire the Indian contingent as they aim for glory in Glasgow starting July 23.