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Neeru Dhanda Wins Asian Games Trap Gold After Illness
Neeru Dhanda won a gold medal for India in trap shooting at the Asian Games.
She had been sick and spent three days in a hospital shortly before the competition.
Because of this, she had very little time to practice.
The competition took place in rainy weather and became harder as it grew darker.
Neeru stayed calm and hit 28 of 30 targets in the final.
Her coach, Peter Wilson, said she focused on one target at a time.
She also received a yellow card, but her coach successfully challenged the decision.
This was the first individual Asian Games trap-shooting gold won by an Indian woman.
The medal capped a breakthrough year for Neeru, who had already won major international titles.
Neeru Dhanda won India’s women’s individual trap-shooting gold at the 2026 Asian Games in Aichi-Nagoya.
She scored 28 hits out of 30 in the final after topping the qualification round.
Dhanda had been hospitalized in Delhi for three days shortly before the Games and arrived in Japan with almost no preparation.
Persistent rain, fading light and a disputed yellow card made the final especially challenging.
The victory made Dhanda the first Indian woman to win an individual Asian Games trap-shooting gold medal.
- Who
- Indian shooter Neeru Dhanda, coached by Peter Wilson and also supported by personal coach Mansher Singh.
- What
- She won the women’s individual trap-shooting gold medal with 28 hits in the final.
- Where
- The Asian Games were held in Aichi-Nagoya, Japan, while Dhanda was hospitalized in Delhi before traveling.
- When
- Tuesday at the 2026 Asian Games; the articles describe her hospitalization as occurring about 10 to 12 days earlier.
- Why
- Her victory was notable because she competed after illness and limited preparation, becoming the first Indian woman to win an individual Asian Games trap-shooting gold.
Key facts
- Final score
- 28 hits out of 30
- Qualification
- Dhanda finished joint-top in qualification with Qatar’s Ray Bassil.
- Preparation setback
- She spent three days in a Delhi hospital and had little or no training before arriving in Japan.
- Weather
- Persistent rain and fading light made the final difficult.
- Historic milestone
- Dhanda became the first Indian woman to win an individual Asian Games trap-shooting gold.
- Coaching
- Peter Wilson is her trap coach, while Mansher Singh has been her personal coach for six years.
- Next events
- The Indian team was scheduled to compete in the mixed team event before preparing for the World Championships in Doha.
Quotes
Peter Wilson
Indian trap-shooting coach and British Olympic champion
“It feels absolutely amazing. A huge team effort from everyone back in India to the team here in Japan. It's been amazing and it's not been easy. The weather has been against us.”
republicworld.com
“And then she just hung in there from the very first target. She knows herself well. She has a strong process. And so one day after another, she just grounded out.”
republicworld.com
Sources
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