Neeru Dhanda Clinches Gold in Women's Trap at Asian Games 2026

Neeru Dhanda's Triumph at the Asian Games

On Tuesday, Indian shooter Neeru Dhanda showcased an outstanding performance, securing the gold medal in the women's individual trap event at the Asian Games 2026. This victory marked India's fifth gold medal at the Aichi-Nagoya Games, as she excelled in both the qualification rounds and the final.

Dhanda, who previously contributed to India's silver medal in the women's trap team event, demonstrated remarkable composure despite challenging rainy conditions. She topped the final with a score of 26, while China's Sun Yunong and Kuwait's Hajar Abdulmalik both finished with 21 points. Qatar's Ray Bassil came in fourth with 16 points.

Strong Start in the Final

Dhanda kicked off the final with an impressive performance, hitting all five targets in her first series. Although she missed one in the second series, she quickly regained her focus and maintained her competitive edge, culminating in a stellar performance in the later rounds.

In the third round, she achieved a perfect score, propelling her back to the lead, and after four series, she had successfully hit 19 out of 20 targets.

A Year of Achievements

After 25 shots, Dhanda was ahead of Sun with a score of 23-21, while Hajar was also at 21 before being eliminated. Dhanda held her composure during the final stages to clinch the gold medal.

This victory adds to an impressive year for Dhanda, who previously won her first ISSF World Cup gold in the women's trap event in Lonato, Italy, in July. As a Naib Subedar in the Indian Army Marksmanship Unit, she has also secured the Asian Championship title, now adding an Asian Games gold to her accolades.

Team Silver and Qualification Success

In the individual qualification, Dhanda finished at the top alongside Qatar's Ray Bassil, which provided her an advantage in case of a tie during the final.

Earlier on the same day, Dhanda, along with teammates Aashima Ahlawat and Manisha Keer, earned a silver medal in the women's trap team event with a total score of 328. China claimed gold with 346 points, while Kuwait took bronze with 325. Dhanda was the standout performer for India in the team event, scoring 118 out of 125.

Significance for Indian Shooting

With her individual gold, India's overall medal tally now stands at 47, which includes five gold, 21 silver, and 21 bronze medals.

Dhanda's achievement is particularly significant for Indian shotgun shooting, a discipline that has historically garnered fewer medals compared to rifle and pistol events. Inspired by her cousin Lakshay Sheoran, who won silver in the men's trap event at the 2018 Asian Games in Jakarta, Dhanda's success marks a significant milestone for Indian shooting.