Indian Shooters Excel at Asian Games 2026
Outstanding Performances by Indian Shooters
Indian trap shooters Neeru Dhanda and Kynan Cheani have advanced to the finals of the mixed trap team event at the Asian Games 2026 in Japan. They secured their spot in the final match, which is scheduled for 11 AM IST, by accumulating a total of 136 points, placing them behind teams from China, Qatar, and Iran.
Neeru Dhanda's Historic Gold Medal Achievement
On Tuesday, Neeru Dhanda showcased an impressive performance, clinching the women's individual trap gold medal 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.
Despite challenging rainy conditions, Neeru topped the eight-shooter final with a score of 26. China's Sun Yunong and Kuwait's Hajar Abdulmalik both scored 21 points, while Qatar's Ray Bassil finished fourth with 16 points.
Neeru's triumph is significant as she became the first Indian woman to win an individual gold medal in trap shooting at the Asian Games. Additionally, she set a new Asian record during her Games debut, missing only two shots out of 30 in the qualification round, finishing with a score of 28.
Women's Trap Team Earns Silver Medal
Earlier on the same day, Neeru, along with teammates Aashima Ahlawat and Manisha Keer, secured a silver medal in the women's trap team event. The Indian team scored 328 points, finishing behind gold medalists China, who scored 346 points, while Kuwait took home the bronze with 325 points. Neeru was the standout performer for India in this event, scoring 118 out of 125.
Archers Achieve Gold and Equal World Record
In another remarkable achievement, Indian archers triumphed over China in the gold medal match, winning 238-234. India led throughout the competition, allowing Jyothi Surekha Vennam to secure her fourth Asian Games gold medal, while Chikitha Taniparthi and Prithika Pradeep earned their first Asiad gold medals.
This victory marks India's seventh gold medal at the Asian Games, contributing to a total of 53 medals, which includes 21 silvers and 25 bronzes. The archers also matched South Korea's world record of 238 set in 2014.