By Ratnajyoti Dutta
NEW DELHI, 15 Sep: The Indian Olympic Association (IOA) will institute a Jaspal Rana Memorial Trophy for the Best Female Athlete of the Asian Games, linking the legendary shooter’s name with sporting excellence and ensuring that his contribution to Indian sport remains part of the aspirations of future athletes.
IOA President PT Usha made the announcement at the launch of Maverick Jaspal, a book chronicling Rana’s life and career, saying the award would provide a lasting way to remember a sportsman who devoted himself to Indian shooting and the development of champions.
“Memories, however precious, belong to one generation. Legacy must belong to the next generation,” Usha said.
Rana, who died at 49, was one of India’s most accomplished shooters and later made a significant contribution as a coach and mentor. Usha said his greatest contribution could ultimately be seen not only in the medals he won himself but in the success of athletes he helped develop.
“As an athlete, the medal carries your name. As a coach, the medal carries somebody else’s name — but a part of you is in that medal,” she said.
Usha particularly recalled Rana’s association with Manu Bhaker, whose success at the Paris 2024 Olympics highlighted the impact of the years of preparation behind an Olympic medal. When Bhaker stood on the Olympic podium, millions of Indians saw the achievement, but those familiar with her journey also saw the pressure, setbacks and sustained work that preceded it.
Usha recalled the photograph of Rana embracing Bhaker after her Olympic success, saying it captured the pride, relief and affection behind his demanding coaching persona.
“He cared about his athletes. He cared about Indian shooting. He cared about winning for India,” Usha said, describing the commitment that defined Rana’s approach to the sport.
The book by S Kannan and G Rajaraman, she said, captures Rana beyond his achievements, portraying him as a coach, mentor, colleague and friend who influenced generations of Indian shooting teams.
The IOA will also institute the Raja Randhir Singh Memorial Trophy for the Best Male Athlete of the Asian Games. Usha said both awards would commemorate two figures who made lasting contributions to Indian sport in different ways.
The Jaspal Rana trophy, however, will carry a particular connection with the champion-maker’s philosophy of developing athletes capable of representing India at the highest level.
Usha said the significance of the initiative would become clearer when future Asian Games champions receive the trophy and ask about the man whose name it carries.
“Perhaps they will not have known Jaspal. Perhaps they will never have met Raja ji. But they will ask, ‘Who was Jaspal Rana? Why does this trophy carry his name?’ And someone will tell them,” she said.
“That is how we keep people alive — not only in photographs, not only in books, but in the dreams and achievements of those who come after them.”
Usha said Rana’s sporting journey had ended too soon, but his influence would continue through athletes who draw inspiration from his life and work.
“Jaspal’s journey ended too soon. But their legacy does not end here. It begins again — with the next generation of Indian athletes,” she said.
