Archive · 29 Sep 2026
Neeru Dhanda Wins Historic Asian Games Trap Gold
Neeru Dhanda is an Indian shooter who won a gold medal in women’s trap at the Asian Games.
She is the first Indian woman to win an individual Asian Games gold in shotgun shooting.
Her journey began when she practised with a borrowed gun beside a pond in Bhopal.
She used a tin as a pretend target while learning how to shoot.
The Madhya Pradesh State Shooting Academy later gave her equipment and ammunition for free.
Before the competition, she became seriously ill and missed important training.
Rain and cold weather also made the event harder.
Even so, she stayed focused and won the medal, hoping to inspire other young shooters.
Neeru Dhanda became the first Indian woman to win an individual shotgun gold at the Asian Games.
Her shooting journey began with a borrowed gun, a pond in Bhopal and a tin used as a target.
The Madhya Pradesh State Shooting Academy provided free guns, ammunition and institutional support.
Dhanda competed after being hospitalised 10 days earlier and missing an entire training camp.
She dedicated the medal to Indian soldiers and the late Asian Games champion Raja Ranjit Singh.
- Who
- Indian shooter Neeru Dhanda, supported by her coach Mansher Singh and the Madhya Pradesh State Shooting Academy.
- What
- Dhanda won the individual women’s trap shotgun gold at the Asian Games, setting a new milestone for Indian women’s shooting.
- When
- She won on Tuesday; the report identifies the dateline as September 29 but does not specify the year.
- Where
- The competition took place in Nagoya, while her shooting journey began in Bhopal and Jind, Haryana.
- Why
- She pursued shooting after being inspired by her cousin Lakshay Sheoran and was enabled by academy support, personal commitment and coaching.
- Event
- Asian Games women’s trap
- Achievement
- India’s first individual women’s shotgun gold at the Asian Games
- Age
- 26
- Training support
- Madhya Pradesh State Shooting Academy provided free guns and ammunition
- Qualification score
- 95
- Recent illness
- Dhanda was hospitalised 10 days before the competition and missed an entire training camp
- Dedications
- Indian soldiers and former Asian Games champion Raja Ranjit Singh
