Shooter Neeru Dhanda records Asian Games history, wins Trap gold for India

On Tuesday, India secured their fifth gold medal at the 2026 Asian Games when trap shooter Neeru Dhanda made history by winning the Women's Individual Trap event. Neeru, the first Indian woman to achieve this feat, broke the previous Asian record in the process. The 26-year-old archer from Haryana's Jind district showcased her prowess by scoring 28 in the eight-shooter final, narrowly beating China's Yunong Sun, who finished with a score of 26.

Just hours earlier, Neeru had been a key contributor to India's silver medal in the team event, alongside Manisha Keer and Aashima Ahlawat. This marked the first time an Indian woman had won gold in the individual trap event. Neeru's remarkable achievement came just months after she clinched gold at the ISSF Shotgun World Cup 2026 in Lonato, Italy.

Earlier this year, Neeru had also reclaimed the national championship title, displaying her consistency and skill. In the crucial final, she only missed three shots out of eight, displaying her remarkable accuracy. Neeru's success in the event came just two decades after India's last individual gold in the trap event, which was won by Randhir Singh in men's trap at the 1978 Bangkok Asian Games.