Neeru Dhanda Shines at Asian Games with Three Medals
Neeru Dhanda's Remarkable Achievement
In just two days, Neeru Dhanda, a 26-year-old shooter from Haryana, has secured three medals at the Asian Games in Japan, including two golds and a silver. This impressive feat marks a significant milestone in her shooting career, which began relatively late.
Following her silver medal in the women's trap team event and a gold in the individual trap event, Neeru clinched another gold today in the mixed trap team event alongside Kynan Chenai. The duo scored 34 in the finals after qualifying in fourth place, setting a new Asian record. The silver medal was claimed by Qatar's Mohammed Al-Rumaihi and Ray Bassil, who scored 32.
Neeru's journey is a testament to her resilience and determination. Originating from the small village of Sangatpura in Jind district, she started shooting at the age of 19 with limited resources. Few anticipated that she would achieve three medals at the Asian Games in such a short time.
Her entry into shooting was unconventional. In 2019, her relative Sombir Sheoran, whose son Lakshya Sheoran practices shooting in Jind, encouraged her to try the sport. She took his advice, and it resonated with her.
The Covid lockdown unexpectedly provided her with the chance to train more consistently. She practiced in relative isolation at Sombir Sheoran's home in Jind, where his support and her family's backing helped her progress, eventually leading to her selection by the Sports Authority of India (SAI).
Coming from a lower-middle-class family that sells buffalo milk, Neeru faced challenges not only from the financial demands of the sport but also from societal expectations for young women in her village.
Marriage was one such expectation. When discussions arose in her family after she secured a job, Neeru made her stance clear: she would only consider marriage after winning a medal at the Asian Games and the Olympics. "Marriage can wait, but a medal cannot," she asserted.
Her determination has now paid off at the Asian Games, with the Olympics being her next major goal.
Last year, Neeru's selection as a Naib Subedar in the Army Marksmanship Unit (AMU) provided her family with financial stability.
As the second of three siblings, Neeru's family lives in a modest one-room house that once housed buffaloes in the verandah. The unpainted walls now proudly display her medals and mementoes.
Initially, her father, farmer Suresh Dhanda, was hesitant about her pursuing shooting due to the associated costs, but her mother supported her decision.
Just before the Games, Neeru faced another challenge when she contracted the flu and was hospitalized in Delhi, delaying her departure by four days. She eventually traveled to Japan on September 21 instead of September 18.