Neeru Dhanda and Kynan Chenai Shine at Asian Games with Historic Gold in Mixed Trap Shooting

Historic Achievement in Mixed Trap Shooting

On Wednesday, the Indian shooting pair of Neeru Dhanda and Kynan Chenai clinched a gold medal in the mixed trap team shooting event at the Asian Games taking place in Aichi-Nagoya. They not only secured the gold but also set a new Games record with a score of 34, surpassing the previous record of 30 held by Qatar earlier this year. Qatar finished with a silver medal at 32 points, while China took home the bronze with a score of 23. This victory marks India's first gold in the Trap Mixed Team event and contributes to the nation's total of nine gold medals at the Asian Games, including three on this day alone. Overall, India has achieved 56 medals in the Asian Games 2026, comprising nine golds, 21 silvers, and 26 bronzes. This win also adds to the shooting team's tally, which now stands at 15 medals, including three golds, eight silvers, and four bronzes.

Neeru Dhanda's Remarkable Performance

Neeru Dhanda showcased an impressive performance to secure the women's individual trap gold medal on Tuesday. Despite challenging rainy conditions, she excelled in the final, finishing with a score of 26. China's Sun Yunong and Kuwait's Hajar Abdulmalik both scored 21 points, while Qatar's Ray Bassil came in fourth with 16 points. Neeru's victory is a significant milestone for Indian shooting, as she is the first woman from the country to win an individual gold in trap shooting at the Asian Games. Additionally, she set an Asian record during her Games debut in the qualification round, missing only two shots out of 30 to finish with a score of 28.

Team Success and Other Sports Highlights

Earlier on Tuesday, Neeru also contributed to a silver medal win alongside teammates Aashima Ahlawat and Manisha Keer in the women's trap team event. The Indian team scored 328 points, finishing behind gold medalists China, who scored 346, while Kuwait secured bronze with 325 points. Neeru was the standout performer for India in this event, scoring 118 out of 125.

Archery Triumph

In archery, the Indian women's compound team, consisting of Jyothi Vennam, Chikitha Taniparthi, and Prithika Pradeep, defeated China with a score of 238-234 to win the gold medal. Earlier, they had triumphed over South Korea in the semifinals with a score of 234-233.

Chikitha Taniparthi and Sahil Jadhav also progressed to the compound mixed team final after a narrow victory against Thailand, winning 156-155 in a thrilling semifinal. Their victory secured them a spot in the Los Angeles 2028 Olympics.

Boxing Update

In boxing, Priya Ghanghas, a gold medalist from the Commonwealth Games 2026, had to settle for bronze after losing to China's Yang Chengyu in the semifinal of the women's 60 kg category.