Varanasi: Mortal remains of accomplished shooting coach and former Asian Games gold medallist Jaspal Rana were consigned to flames at the Manikarnika Ghat in the holy city on Saturday evening. Rana breathed his last at a Delhi hospital on Friday night. He was 49.The body arrived by chartered plane at Lal Bahadur Shastri International Airport from Dehradun around 3:45 pm on Saturday afternoon and was received by Pankaj Singh, son of defence minister Rajnath Singh. Tributes were paid and a salute was given to the mortal remains at the air cargo complex situated in the old terminal building of the airport. Along with family members, several public representatives, political office-bearers and dignitaries, including BJP UP minister Shankar Giri and Jai Nath Singh, former district president of BJP’s Azamgarh unit, were present. They all paid tribute to the departed soul and expressed condolences to the grief-stricken family. A large number of supporters and well-wishers were also present at the airport for a last glimpse of Rana.Rana mentored Manu Bhaker and helped her secure a historic double bronze medal at the 2024 Paris Olympics. President Droupadi Murmu, Prime Minister Narendra Modi, and other leaders expressed grief over the demise of Jaspal Rana.
