Neeru Dhanda eyes Olympic medal to end wait since Rajyavardhan’s 2004 silver

New Delhi: As Neeru Dhanda prepared to depart for the Asian Games 2026, she was admitted to the hospital with viral fever, leaving little time for recuperation before her journey to Japan. The dedicated trap shooter embraced the challenge, determined to secure a medal in her first Asian Games. Upon arriving in Aichi-Nagoya, Neeru donned her ammunition and stepped onto the shooting range, motivated by the mantra, "Neeru, tu training pe hai."

Neeru's three-medal haul—two golds and a silver—was a testament to her resilience and focus. She won gold in the women's individual trap event, teamed up with Manisha Keer and Aashima Ahlawat to secure silver in the women's trap team event, and partnered Kynan Chenai to triumph in the trap mixed team event on the penultimate day of the competition.

However, the path to glory was not without its struggles. Neeru spent the entirety of her hospitalization battling the illness, but she refused to let it deter her from pursuing her dreams.

Dedicating her medals to late Raja Randhir Singh, India's first Asian Games shooting gold medallist, Neeru drew inspiration from his words of encouragement. She also expressed gratitude towards her federation, SAI, her coaches, and everyone who supported her throughout her journey. Neeru's sights now set on the Los Angeles Olympics, she hopes to secure a quota spot at the World Championship in Doha, aiming to add another gold medal to her collection.