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Indian trap shooter Neeru Dhanda has scripted history by winning gold at the 2026 Asian Games held in Aichi-Nagoya. By clinching the gold medal in the women's trap shooting event, Neeru not only secured India's fifth gold medal of these Games but also became the first Indian woman to win an individual gold medal in a trap event in Asian Games history. Additionally, she became the first athlete to win an individual gold medal for India at these Games.
Who is Neeru Dhanda?: Early Life and Family Background
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26-year-old Neeru Dhanda was born into an ordinary middle-class family; her father is a farmer, and her mother is a homemaker. Coming from a farming background, choosing a costly sport like shooting and building a career in it was far from easy for Neeru. Financial constraints posed the biggest challenge in the early days, but her family, especially her brother and cousin, supported her at every step.
Neeru Dhanda: Shooting Career and Early Struggles
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Neeru’s entry into the world of shooting was driven by her brother, Lakshya, and her cousin, Laksheshwaran. Notably, her brother Lakshya is an individual silver medalist from the 2018 Asian Games. In an interview, Neeru mentioned that due to a lack of financial stability during her initial training years, she had to work even harder and maintain greater focus.
For the first six to seven months, Neeru practiced shooting while staying at her brother's home. Subsequently, she appeared for trials at the Bhopal Shooting Academy, where she was selected based on her performance. It was here that the foundation of her professional shooting career was strengthened.
Naib Subedar Neeru Dhanda: Service in the Indian Army
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Neeru Dhanda is not only bringing glory to the nation on the sports field but is also dedicated to serving the country. She serves as a Naib Subedar (Corps of Military Police) in the Indian Army. She trains at the Army Marksmanship Unit (AMU) in Mhow. Neeru is coached by Peter Wilson—a gold medalist from the 2012 London Olympics under whose guidance her shooting skills have improved remarkably.
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Neeru Dhanda: Career Achievements and Medals
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In a very short span of time, Neeru Dhanda has carved a distinct niche for herself in the international shooting arena. Her key achievements are as follows:
- Asian Games 2026 (Gold Medal): Won a historic gold medal by securing the top spot with a score of 28 points in the women's individual trap event.
- Asian Games 2026 (Silver Medal): Teamed up with Ashima Ahlawat and Manisha Keer in the women's trap team event to post a total score of 328 points, securing a silver medal for India.
- Asian Games Qualification Record: Equalled the Asian Games qualification record by scoring 118 points in the qualification round.
- ISSF World Cup Lonato 2026 (Gold Medal): Won the gold medal at the World Cup held in Lonato, Italy, by defeating former French world champion Carole Cormenier. She became the first Indian female shooter to win an individual ISSF World Cup gold medal in the trap event.
- ISSF World Cup Mixed Team 2026: Won a bronze medal in the mixed team event.
- Asian Shooting Championship 2025: Won a gold medal with a stellar performance in the individual event.
Asian Games 2026 Women's Trap Final Standings
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Neeru Dhanda displayed remarkable composure in the eight-shooter final. The final standings were as follows:
- Neeru Dhanda (India) – 28 (Gold Medal)
- Sun Yunyong (China) – 26 (Silver Medal)
- Hajar Abdulmalik (Kuwait) – 21 (Bronze Medal)
- Ray Bassil (Qatar) – 16
- Zhu Jingyu (China) – 13
- Lin Yi-chun (Chinese Taipei) – 12
- Liu Wan-yu (Chinese Taipei) – 6
- Eleonora Ibragimova (Uzbekistan) – 6
Future Goal: Los Angeles Olympics 2028
Neeru Dhanda's journey rising from a humble background to flying the Tricolour high on the global stage serves as an inspiration for millions of young Indians. After winning historic gold medals at the ISSF World Cup and the Asian Games, her next major goal is the Los Angeles 2028 Olympics, where she is considered one of India's strongest medal prospects.
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