Indian shooter Neeru Dhanda scripted history at the Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games 2026 on Tuesday, September 29, winning the gold medal in the women’s individual trap event and delivering India its first individual gold of the Games.
The 26-year-old produced a commanding performance in the final, hitting 28 of her 30 targets to finish at the top of the podium. Her score also set a new Asian record, surpassing the previous mark of 24. China’s Sun Yunong won the silver medal with 26 hits, while Kuwait’s Hajar Abdulmalik claimed bronze with 21.
Dhanda had already made her presence felt earlier in the competition by helping India win silver in the women’s trap team event alongside Aashima Ahlawat and Manisha Keer. She then topped the individual qualification with 118 hits out of 125, a Games-record score, before carrying that form into the final.
Her victory also marked a first for India in the women’s trap event at the Asian Games. Dhanda became the first Indian woman to win an individual trap gold at the continental competition, adding another landmark to her rapidly growing international record.
Who Is Neeru Dhanda?
Born on May 25, 2000, Neeru Dhanda hails from Haryana’s Jind district. She was inspired to take up shooting after her maternal cousin Lakshya Sheoran won a silver medal in the men’s trap event at the 2018 Asian Games in Jakarta. She later moved with her family to Shivpuri in Madhya Pradesh, where she continued her training and eventually joined the Madhya Pradesh shooting academy. The ISSF lists her as an Indian trap shooter and records her birthday as May 25, 2000.
Her rise to the top has accelerated over the past year. In 2025, Dhanda won individual and team gold at the Asian Shooting Championships. In 2026, she became the first Indian woman to win an individual trap gold at an ISSF World Cup when she triumphed in Lonato, Italy.
With her Asian Games triumph, Dhanda has now added the biggest continental title of her career to an already impressive run of international performances. Her gold is also India’s fifth at the 2026 Asian Games.