Indian trap shooter Neeru Dhanda produced a stunning performance on Day 11 of the 2026 Asian Games, securing India’s first individual gold medal of the ongoing edition.
Competing at the Aichi Prefectural General Shooting Range in Toyota, Neeru delivered a masterclass in precision to end the nation’s wait for individual gold at the Games.
Neeru, who serves as a Naib Subedar in the Indian Army’s Corps of Military Police (CMP) and trains at the Army Marksmanship Unit in Mhow, produced a near-flawless finale, shattering 28 of 30 targets to claim top honors on the continental stage.
Team Silver Sets Up Double Podium Delight
Neeru’s individual victory capped a double-medal day for the Haryana-born marksman. Earlier in the morning, she led the Indian Women’s Trap squad—alongside Aashima Ahlawat (106) and Manisha Keer (104)—to a team silver medal with an aggregate score of 328 points.
Neeru was the standout performer in qualifying, topping the leaderboard with a Games-record score of 118 out of 125. Her dominant run in the qualifiers seamlessly carried into the six-shooter final, where she held her nerve through all three series to claim gold ahead of a stacked Asian field.
A Banner Year for Neeru Dhanda
The Asian Games gold continues a sensational season for Neeru. After securing gold at the 2025 Asian Championships, she made history earlier in 2026 by becoming the first Indian woman to win an individual trap gold at an ISSF Shotgun World Cup in Lonato, Italy. She followed that up with a bronze in the mixed team event at the World Cup in Almaty.
Neeru’s gold marks India’s fifth gold medal overall at the 2026 Asian Games, providing a massive boost to the Indian contingent as action intensifies across boxing, archery, squash, and athletics.
