One of the first people to return to work after the highs of the Paris 2024 Olympics is Jaspal Rana. As the ‘personal coach’ of Manu Bhaker, who won two medals in Chateauroux, the Dronacharya Awardee did meet several politicians and attended a few felicitation functions as well. Yet, as someone who loves the sport and wants to keep giving back to it, he has been back at work since September.
Manu Bhaker has taken a three-month break and is off shooting until November, but Jaspal has no such luxury. As he said in one of his most sensational interviews with RevSportz during the Paris Olympics: “I have been jobless for three years.” His hunt for a regular job continues, though he isn’t losing sleep over it. He was offered the junior development programme again by the NRAI (National Rifle Association of India), but that’s not what he should be doing now, after producing an Olympic champion.
When asked if he had become a celebrity after the Paris Olympics, his first response was a loud laugh. “Even when I was winning so many medals during my shooting career, I was balanced and never got carried away. So, Manu winning medals hasn’t changed me one bit. It’s nice when people recognize me at the airport and a few more public places, but that’s it. I stay grounded,” said Jaspal. “Anna, you tell me, have I changed? I still take calls from everyone, so life goes on for me, it’s just the same,” he stressed.
When Rubina Francis won a medal at the Paralympics in Paris, Jaspal was genuinely happy. He had mentored her during her most crucial formative years at the Madhya Pradesh State Academy in Bhopal and was glad she did well. He remained quiet at that time, not wanting to ‘claim’ anything. Yet, a recent Instagram post from Rubina, where she described coach Jaspal Rana as a “hard taskmaster” who guided her, is something he cherishes. That’s the way he trains and mentors—no shortcuts. There were days leading up to the Olympics when Manu begged for a day off, but he refused. “I told her one day off is one day wasted, and look at what she achieved,” said Jaspal.
Despite his close bond with Manu, Jaspal knows he has much more to offer to Indian shooting. “I hadn’t been focusing on my own daughter (Devanshi), and now she’s back at the shooting ranges. With my own daughter, too, it’s clear—she has to slog, there are no concessions,” said Jaspal. His schedule involves plenty of travel, mostly between New Delhi and Dehradun, where he’s also training kids. But for him, all this is easy. “Coaching is something I learned from my own coach, Tibor Gonczol. I still cry when I think of him and how much he guided me. He’s blessing me from above,” said the emotional coach.
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A deeply spiritual person, it was Jaspal Rana who encouraged Manu Bhaker to read the Bhagavad Gita in the lead-up to the Olympics. He believes in karma. “I believe in karma, and if my time to win an Olympic medal came, it was through Manu. Yes, the medals belong to India, and Manu and I played a small role. But I must also help those who want me to guide them,” added Jaspal, who has much more to offer. Few people know he has refused jobs in Europe, where coaches can earn €1,000 per day with a minimum of 100 days per year guaranteed. His reason for turning it down? “Desh bhakti.” Does that sound like a cliché? No. That’s what happens when you come from a low middle-class family, face hardships, and then make it big.
Even before Jaspal Rana had left Paris after the Olympics closing ceremony, two Indian shooters had reached out to him—Ria Rajeshwari Kumari and Kynan Chenai. Both trap shooters are already following the schedule he prescribed. Some might question what he knows about shotgun shooting, but as Jaspal says, he is a mentor, not a coach who has to teach fundamentals. “These shooting kids are smart; they know much more than I do. I can only channel their inner energy and guide them. I have no formal contract with Ria, as Raja Randhir’s family wanted me to help her. The same goes for Kynan, who also has potential,” said Jaspal. He was quick to add, “I’ve never refused a shooter who sought my help, but I definitely need a monthly income to take care of my kids.”
What’s the plan with Manu Bhaker? “I really don’t know any details. Manu has to first return to the range, and then we’ll work out the next plan. It’s not going to be easy. It’s nice to talk about medals in LA 2028, but she has to start working hard now. If you ask me, even 2025 is important for Manu. The depth in shooting is massive in India. Don’t take anything for granted, that’s my message,” said Jaspal Rana. How does he see Devanshi Rana shaping up? “As a coach, all I’ll say is she has to work hard and follow the same methods, prove herself. Just the Rana surname won’t work,” he said. Brutal? That defines Jaspal Rana.
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