Asian Games 2026: Neeru Dhanda brings Gold in the Individual shooting game, and Silver in team event, India’s First-Ever Women’s Trap Champion.

Hours after helping India wins silver in the team shooting competition; Neeru Dhanda won the gold medal in the women's trap with an Asian record at the Asian Games 2026 on Tuesday.

News Source: https://www.olympics.com/en

In the final at the Aichi Prefectural General Shooting Gallery, the 26-year-old Indian shooter Neeru Dhanda finished two shots ahead of Sun Yunong of the People's Republic of China by hitting 28 of 30 targets and missing just two. Hajar Abdulmalik of Kuwait took up the bronze with 21. Neeru became the first Indian woman to win a gold medal in any shotgun event at the Asian Games with a score of 28, surpassing the previous Asian record of 24.

For Indian shooting, Neeru Dhanda's historic double-podium performance on September 29, 2026, marks a turning point. The 26-year-old from Haryana earned her status as India's first-ever women's trap champion at the Asian Games by winning both individual gold and team silver. After Suruchi Singh and Kamaljeet won the 10m air pistol mixed team title, this was India's second gold in shooting at the Asian Games in 2026. After winning the medal she said “I dedicate this medal to my mother, to my coach, and to the entire country of India. I want to put this medal around my mother's neck and my coach's neck. I am very excited about that.”

Before missing one target in the second series, Neeru began the final with a perfect five hits. In response, she moved to 19 hits from 20 targets with two straight perfect series, giving her a two-point lead over her closest competitors. Neeru finished on 28 and won the gold medal in the fifth series after missing just once more.

Before her individual game In the Women's Shooting Team competition, Neeru Dhanda was paired with colleagues Aashima Ahlawat and Manisha Keer. They easily won the Silver Medal behind the strong Chinese team with a combined total score of 328 targets (346).

She also won the gold in the ISSF World Cup at Lonato, Italy, in July of this year, making history as the first Indian women trap shooter to do so. Neeru shot 27 in the final after setting a national record in qualification with a score of 121 out of 125.

Neeru Dhanda’s remarkable performance at Asian Games 2026 increased India’s shooting tally to 14 medals, 2 gold, 8 silver and four bronze.

FAQs:

Q: What record did Neeru Dhanda break at the 2026 Asian Games?

A: In the Women's Trap individual final, Neeru Dhanda shot an incredible 28 out of 30 targets. The previous Asian Record and Asian Games Record of 24 targets, which had existed for years, were broken with this score.

Q: How many medals did Neeru Dhanda win in total at this edition?

A: She won two medals on September 29, 2026. Gold medal in Women’s Trap Individual Event, and Silver in Women’s Trap Team Event.

Q: Why is this victory of Neeru Dhanda considered historic for Indian sports?
A: Neeru became the first Indian woman in history to win an individual gold medal in a shotgun (trap) event at the Asian Games. Furthermore, her win ended a 48-year drought for India in individual trap gold medals at the Games

Q: Who is Neeru's coach and how did they celebrate?

A: Peter Wilson, India's foreign trap coach and a former World No. 1 and Olympic gold medalist, closely trains her. Coach Wilson famously shattered his umbrella while celebrating her triumph in the pouring rain during a moment of sheer happiness as the final shot was made.

Q: Who are at the top of medal tally of Asian Games 2026 so far?

A: China is at the top having 135 gold medals out of 238 of medals and Japan at second securing 41 gold medals.