Neeru Dhanda Triumphs with Historic Gold at Asian Games Amidst Adversity
Overcoming Challenges: Dhanda's Remarkable Journey
Neeru Dhanda faced significant challenges just ten days prior to her Asian Games debut, having been hospitalized for three days in Delhi. Despite her illness, limited training, and adverse weather, she clinched the women's individual trap gold, as revealed by India's trap shooting coach, Peter Wilson.
Arriving late in Japan with physiotherapist Ashwini, Dhanda had minimal preparation before the competition. Nevertheless, she maintained her composure throughout both the qualification rounds and the final, ultimately securing India's fifth gold medal at the Aichi-Nagoya Games.
Coach's Insights on Dhanda's Resilience
"It's been a long journey for her. Just ten days ago, she was hospitalized for three days in Delhi. She arrived late with our physio Ashwini and had virtually no training before the event. This made things quite challenging," Wilson stated after Dhanda's victory.
"From the very first target, she showed her determination. She understands her process well and managed to push through each day. The final showcased the true spirit of Neeru," he added.
Exceptional Performance Under Pressure
Wilson, who won gold at the London 2012 Olympics, emphasized that this achievement was a team effort, especially given the tough conditions in Japan. "It feels incredible. This was a huge team effort, from everyone in India to our team here in Japan. The weather has posed significant challenges," he remarked.
Dhanda excelled in the individual qualification, tying with Qatar's Ray Bassil, and delivered a stellar performance in the final, scoring 28 points despite the rain. She started strong with a perfect five out of five before recovering from a miss in the second series.
When asked about his satisfaction with Dhanda's performance, Wilson expressed, "Absolutely. Considering the men's gold was won on the 26th and Neeru on the 28th, she would have taken the overall. It's quite impressive, and the weather was equally tough for everyone. She's truly a star."
A Historic Milestone for Indian Shooting
This gold medal marks a significant milestone as Dhanda becomes the first Indian woman to win an individual Asian Games gold in trap shooting.
Guidance from Experienced Coaches
Dhanda, a Naib Subedar in the Indian Army Marksmanship Unit, has had a breakthrough year, winning her first ISSF World Cup gold in women's trap in Lonato, Italy, in July, followed by the Asian Championship title. She trains under Wilson, who previously won double trap gold for Great Britain at the London 2012 Olympics and was once ranked world No. 1. Additionally, Indian Olympian Mansher Singh has been her personal coach for the last six years, also serving as the NRAI's High-Performance Manager for shotgun.
Team Silver Medal Achievement
Earlier on the same day, Dhanda contributed to India's silver medal win in the women's trap team event alongside Aashima Ahlawat and Manisha Keer. The Indian team scored 328 points, finishing behind China (346), while Kuwait secured bronze with 325 points. Dhanda was the standout performer, scoring 118 out of 125.