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Neeru Dhanda Wins Women’s Trap Gold at 2026 Asian Games

By Drooid · Sep 30, 2026, 4:04 AM UTC · How we work

Summary

Neeru Dhanda Wins Gold

Neeru Dhanda won the women’s trap gold at the 2026 Asian Games in Nagoya.
She hit 28 of 30 targets, beating China’s Sun Yunong (26) and setting a new Asian Games record.
It was India’s first women’s individual trap gold and lifted the medal count to 47, moving to 11th place.
Dhanda, hospitalized ten days earlier, also contributed to a team silver with Aashima Ahlawat and Manisha Keer.

Summary

Neeru Dhanda Honors Soldiers

Naib Subedar Neeru Dhanda dedicated her Asian Games gold to Indian Army soldiers and late shooter Raja Randhir Singh.
She serves in the Indian Army Marksmanship Unit as a Naib Subedar.
Dhanda said her cousin Lakshay Sheoran inspired her to take up trap shooting.
She joined Madhya Pradesh Shooting Academy in Bhopal after receiving guns and ammunition.
Academy support enabled her to train despite severe flu and suspected H1N1 infection.

History

Historical Context

In 2008 Abhinav Bindra won India’s first individual Olympic gold in the men’s 10 m air rifle, the first of seven shooting medals among India’s 41 Olympic medals. His success helped shape a generation of shooters, culminating in Naib Subedar Neeru Dhanda’s trap gold at the 2026 prestigious continental Asian Games.

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Neeru Dhanda Wins Gold

Neeru Dhanda won the women’s trap gold at the 2026 Asian Games in Nagoya.
She hit 28 of 30 targets, beating China’s Sun Yunong (26) and setting a new Asian Games record.
It was India’s first women’s individual trap gold and lifted the medal count to 47, moving to 11th place.
Dhanda, hospitalized ten days earlier, also contributed to a team silver with Aashima Ahlawat and Manisha Keer.

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