Indian shooter Neeru Dhanda scripted history on Saturday by winning her first individual gold medal at the ISSF World Cup in the women’s trap event.
Displaying remarkable composure, she hit 27 out of 30 targets in the final, defeating former world champion Carole Cormenier of France in a tense shoot‑off.
Dhanda had entered the medal round in outstanding form, topping qualification with 121/125 points. In the final, she and Cormenier were tied at 25 hits before the French shooter faltered under pressure. Dhanda held her nerve to finish with 27 hits, securing a career‑defining victory. Italy’s Erica Sessa claimed bronze, while Paris 2024 Olympic silver medallist Silvana Stanco suffered a shock early exit.
This triumph marks India’s first individual shotgun medal of the ISSF season and only the second overall in shotgun events this year. It is also Dhanda’s second World Cup medal, following her mixed trap bronze with Vivaan Kumar in Almaty earlier in 2026.
For the Indian contingent, results were mixed. Manisha Keer narrowly missed the women’s trap final, finishing 10th. In men’s trap, Asian Games medallist Kynan Chenai placed 71st, while Prithviraj Tondaiman, competing for Ranking Points Only, was India’s best performer at 32nd. None of India’s skeet shooters advanced to their finals earlier in the tournament.
Dhanda’s victory is being hailed as a breakthrough moment for Indian shotgun shooting, inspiring hopes of greater success in upcoming competitions.
