Archive · 29 Sep 2026
Neeru Dhanda Overcomes Illness for Historic Asian Games Gold
Neeru Dhanda is an Indian athlete who competes in trap shooting.
She won a gold medal at the Asian Games.
This made her the first Indian woman to win an individual trap gold at the Games.
About 10 days earlier, she had been in the hospital because she was very sick.
She had also missed almost three and a half weeks of training.
Rain and cold weather made the shooting final more difficult.
Dhanda stayed focused by thinking about one target at a time.
Her coach Peter Wilson praised her hard work, and she will now prepare for the World Championships.
Neeru Dhanda became the first Indian woman to win an individual trap gold medal at the Asian Games.
She was hospitalised for three days about 10 days before the event with a severe illness suspected to be H1N1.
Dhanda had not trained for three-and-a-half weeks and reportedly went five days without food.
She won in rain and falling temperatures in Toyota, although reports differed on whether her final score was 28 or 26.
Her victory ended India’s long wait for an Asian Games trap gold and came ahead of the World Championships.
- Who
- Indian trap shooter Neeru Dhanda, coached by Peter Wilson and supported by Mansher Singh.
- What
- Dhanda won the women’s individual trap gold medal, becoming the first Indian woman to win an individual trap title at the Asian Games.
- When
- On Tuesday, about 10 days after her hospitalisation; the articles identify the event as the Asian Games 2026.
- Where
- The final took place in Toyota, Japan.
- Why
- She remained focused despite illness, a long training break, rain, cold conditions and pressure during the final.
- Medal
- Gold in the women’s individual trap event
- Historic achievement
- First Indian woman to win an individual trap gold at the Asian Games
- Hospitalisation
- Three days, about 10 days before the competition
- Training setback
- No training for three-and-a-half weeks
- Final conditions
- Heavy or persistent rain and falling temperatures
- Final score
- Reports differed: one said 28 of 30 targets, while another said 26
- Indian record
- The victory ended a reported 48-year wait for India’s Asian Games trap gold
- Next event
- World Championships in about one month, where India is seeking quota places
Sources
How Neeru Dhanda Overcame Illness For Asian Games Gold
Neeru Dhanda's Coach Peter Wilson Destroys Umbrella In Celebration After Indian Shooter's Gold Medal Winning Shot At Asian Games 2026 | VIDEO
