Naib Subedar Neeru Dhanda of the Indian Army has created history at the 2026 Asian Games in Aichi-Nagoya, becoming the first Indian woman to win an individual gold medal in the women’s trap shooting event.
The Indian Army shooter produced a dominant performance throughout the competition, beginning with an outstanding qualification round in which she scored 118 out of 125 targets and set a new Games Record.
Her strong qualification performance gave her confidence heading into the final, where she once again displayed remarkable consistency, composure and accuracy under pressure.
Competing in difficult conditions, Neeru started the final strongly and remained among the leaders from the opening series. She eventually finished on top to secure the gold medal for India, adding another major achievement to her rapidly growing international shooting career.
The victory also marked an important milestone for Indian shooting, particularly in the shotgun discipline, where medals at major international events have traditionally been harder to come by compared to rifle and pistol events.
Earlier in the day, Neeru had also contributed significantly to India’s silver medal in the women’s trap team event alongside Aashima Ahlawat and Manisha Keer. The Indian trio finished with a combined score of 328, with Neeru emerging as the team’s top performer.
For Neeru, the Asian Games gold comes after an impressive run of form on the international circuit. In July 2026, she won her maiden ISSF World Cup gold medal in the women’s trap event in Lonato, Italy, further establishing herself as one of India’s leading shotgun shooters.
Serving in the Indian Army with the rank of Naib Subedar, Neeru is associated with the Army Marksmanship Unit, which has produced several elite shooters for India over the years.
Her journey into shooting was inspired by her cousin Lakshay Sheoran, who won a silver medal in the men’s trap event at the 2018 Asian Games in Jakarta. Eight years later, Neeru went one step further by claiming gold on the same continental stage.
Her achievement reflects not only her personal determination and years of training, but also the role of the Indian Army’s sporting ecosystem in nurturing athletes capable of competing at the highest level.
With a Games Record in qualification, an individual gold medal and a team silver medal, Naib Subedar Neeru Dhanda emerged as one of India’s standout performers at the 2026 Asian Games.
Her historic triumph is likely to inspire a new generation of Indian shooters, particularly women aspiring to make their mark in trap and other shotgun disciplines.
