Aichi-Nagoya, 29 September (H.S.): Indian shooter Neeru Dhanda created history at the Asian Games 2026 by winning the gold medal in the women’s individual trap event. Neeru recorded 28 hits in the final to set a new Asian Games record. It was India’s first medal in the event and the country’s fifth gold medal at the Asian Games 2026. It was also India’s first individual gold medal at the ongoing Games.

Neeru delivered a superb performance in the final, maintaining her lead from the outset. She successfully hit 28 targets in total. A Chinese shooter won the silver medal with 26 hits, while the Kuwaiti competitor secured the bronze with 21 hits.

Neeru’s score of 28 hits also established a new Asian Games record. The previous record in the event was 24 hits, held by China’s Liu Wan-Yu, who set the mark in January this year.

This was Neeru’s first medal in the women’s individual trap event at the Asian Games. Earlier on Tuesday, Neeru, Aashima Ahlawat and Manisha Keer had won the silver medal for India in the women’s trap team event. In that competition, Neeru had scored 118 points in individual qualification to secure a place in the final.

## Impressive International Record

Born on May 25, 2000, in Jind, Haryana, Neeru Dhanda is among India’s leading shooters in the women’s trap event. She represented India at the ISSF World Championship in Osijek in 2022 and has since continued to make her mark on the international circuit.

In 2025, Neeru won the gold medal in the women’s trap event at the Asian Shooting Championships. In 2026, she created history by winning the women’s trap gold at the ISSF Shotgun World Cup in Lonato, Italy, becoming the first Indian woman to win an individual gold medal in the event at an ISSF World Cup. She also won a bronze medal in the trap mixed team event at the ISSF World Cup in Almaty, Kazakhstan, earlier this year.

Neeru has also received support under the Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports’ Target Olympic Podium Scheme (TOPS). The assistance has included equipment, ammunition, accommodation and food, as well as other training-related support. According to the available information, she has received financial assistance of Rs 1 lakh under TOPS and Rs 25,09,620 under the Annual Calendar for Training and Competition (ACTC).

With Neeru’s gold medal, India’s gold medal tally at the Asian Games 2026 has risen to five.

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Hindusthan Samachar / Jun Sarkar