Neeru Dhanda has scripted a golden chapter in Indian shooting at the Asian Games 2026, winning the women’s individual trap title to secure India’s first individual gold medal of the Games. Braving persistent rain and intense competition, the Indian shooter displayed remarkable consistency and composure, leading from qualification to the final before sealing the title with 26 hits. Her victory over China’s Sun Yunong and Kuwait’s Hajar Abdulmalik not only added another major international triumph to her stellar 2026 season but also highlighted the growing strength of India’s shotgun shooting.
Neeru Dhanda produced a composed and commanding performance to win India’s first individual gold medal at the Asian Games 2026, triumphing in the women’s individual trap event despite difficult weather conditions. The Indian shooter led from the qualification stage through the final, eventually finishing with 26 hits in the eight-shooter final to secure the top spot. China’s Sun Yunong and Kuwait’s Hajar Abdulmalik both ended with 21, while Qatar’s Ray Bassil finished fourth with 16.
Persistent rain had made conditions challenging, but Dhanda remained focused throughout the competition. She began the final with a clean opening series, hitting all five targets. Although she missed one target in the second series, the Indian quickly regained her rhythm. A flawless third series restored her position at the top, and she maintained that advantage as the contest moved into its decisive stages.
After four series, Dhanda had registered 19 hits from 20 shots, underlining her consistency under pressure. After 25 shots, she remained ahead of Sun, leading 23-21, while Hajar was also on 21 before being eliminated. Dhanda then handled the final stage with composure to finish the contest on 26 and claim the Asian Games title.
The gold capped what has already been a remarkable year for the shooter. Dhanda won her maiden ISSF World Cup gold in the women’s trap event in Lonato, Italy, in July and had also captured the Asian Championship title before arriving in Japan. Her Asian Games triumph now adds another major international title to her rapidly expanding record.
Her achievement is also significant for Indian shotgun shooting, which has traditionally received less medal success at major international competitions than the country’s rifle and pistol disciplines. Dhanda’s consistent performances across the World Cup, Asian Championship and Asian Games underline the growing strength of India’s trap shooting programme.
For Dhanda, the journey to the Asian Games podium has also been closely connected with family inspiration. She took up shooting after being inspired by her cousin Lakshay Sheoran, who won a silver medal in men’s trap at the 2018 Asian Games in Jakarta. Eight years later, Dhanda has gone a step further on the Asian Games stage.
Her golden performance in the individual trap event, coming after her team silver, gave Dhanda a memorable two-medal outing in Japan. More importantly, it established her as one of the standout Indian performers of the 2026 Asian Games and provided India with its first individual gold of the Games.
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