Army shooter Neeru, inspired by his cousin, won a historic gold at the Asian Games

It wasn’t one of the celebrated rifle or pistol events, but shotgun brought India its first individual gold medal at the Asian Games, ending an agonizing 10-day wait. Army shooter Neeru Dhanda (26) won gold in the women’s trap event, setting a new Asian record.

Asian Games, September 29 update

The wait was frustrating, but the gold arrived in style. Neeru braved the rain at Aichi Pref. General Shooting Gallery dominated the women’s trap final on Tuesday. Months after becoming the first Indian to win a World Cup gold in women’s individual trap, she finished atop the podium at the Asian Games.

It was also India’s first ever individual gold in women’s trap at the Asian Games. Neeru’s gold came after she had earlier led the Indian women’s team to silver. She went 118 out of 125 in the individual qualifiers, maintaining remarkable consistency throughout the three-day qualifying process, which tests shooters over five rounds in challenging conditions.

Neeru shot 28 out of 30, beating the previous Asian record by four shots. China’s Sun Yunong won silver with 26 out of 30 while Kuwait’s Hajar Abdulmalik took bronze with 21 out of 25.

Neeru had a healthy two-point lead going into the final series. But pressure, so often in the past, has done strange things to Indian batsmen in major competitions. Neeru, however, was a picture of poise and concentration. The rain was falling hard, but she kept her eyes on the goal.

She shot a perfect streak of five when it mattered most and kept Sun Yunong at bay.

Neeru missed only two shots, one each in Series 2 and Series 5. Screengrab from Asian Games website

INSPIRATION FROM SISTER LAKSHAY

Neeru Dhanda was not someone who grew up dreaming of becoming a shooter. Her introduction to the sport came through her cousin Lakshay Sheoran, who won a silver medal in trap at the 2018 Asian Games. Watching him compete sparked an interest in Neera and what started as a curiosity soon became a serious pursuit.

The family connection went beyond inspiration. Lakshay helped Neeru in her early days, with Neeru initially training alongside him and using a weapon he lent her. Before that, she trained with the family’s double-barreled gun, shooting tin cans as her father helped her get used to the recoil. She eventually joined the Madhya Pradesh Shooting Academy in 2019, starting the journey that took her to the international scene.

Hailing from Jind, Haryana, Neeru has since become one of India’s leading trap shooters. She made her World Championship debut in Osijek in 2022 and won her first Asian Championship gold in 2025. In 2026, she became the first Indian to win an individual gold at the ISSF Women’s Trap World Cup in Lonato, Italy.

He is also a Naib Subedar in the Military Police Corps and trains in the Army Rifle Unit in Mhow, Madhya Pradesh. Her journey therefore took her from Jindu to Madhya Pradesh, from shooting tin cans with the family gun to standing on the biggest stages in the sport.

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