Neeru Dhanda becomes first Indian woman to win Asian Games trap gold

In a historic moment for Indian women's trap shooting, Neeru Dhanda etched her name into the record books by becoming the first Indian woman to win an individual gold medal at the Asian Games on Tuesday in Aichi Nagoya. The 26-year-old shooter achieved this feat by hitting 28 out of 30 targets in the final, setting a new Asian record in the process.

This achievement is all the more remarkable considering it was India's 48-year wait for an individual trap gold at the Asian Games. The last Indian to win such a medal was Randhir Singh in Bangkok in 1978. Neeru finally broke that wait in Japan, marking a golden first for the nation.

Interestingly, this victory is not only India's first individual trap gold but also the first individual medal of any color in women's trap at the Asian Games. Neeru's performance was a testament to her skill and mental strength, as she managed to excel despite challenging conditions caused by rain and poor visibility.

The Indian shooter had already demonstrated her prowess during the qualification round, where she finished joint top with Qatar's Ray Bassil. In the final, Neeru surpassed expectations, not just by winning gold, but by setting a new continental record. This double achievement came as part of a breakout year for Neeru, who had previously won an individual ISSF World Cup gold in trap in July during a competition in Italy.