Hospitalized 10 days before the Asian Games, Neeru Dhanda will shoot her way to gold

Neeru Dhanda on Tuesday made history by becoming the first Indian woman to win an individual gold medal in trap shooting at the Asian Games. Her record-breaking triumph in Nagoya came barely 10 days after a serious illness left her 26-year-old hospitalized and unsure if she would be able to race.

Dhanda was talking about difficult preparation after her victory, credit to personal trainer Mansher Singh for helping her overcome her health scare and focus on her goal. She also dedicated the medal to the soldiers of the Indian Army and the late Raj Randhir Singh, who won gold in the first Asian Trap Games in 1978.

Asian Games, September 29 update

“Mr Mansher only told me to forget what happened and focus on the goal, which I did,” Neeru said.

“I dedicate this medal to the soldiers of the Indian Army who are doing a much greater task in defending the nation and to late Raj Randhir Singh who won India’s first gold in trap at the Asian Games in 1978,” she said.

Neeru Dhanda has written a monumental chapter for Indian sports by becoming the FIRST Indian ever to win a GOLD medal in the Women’s Trap individual event at the Asian Games!

Watch the 20th Asian Games Aichi-Nagoya LIVE on Sony Sports Network and Sony LIV TV channels. pic.twitter.com/0wCN7xHiQu— Sony Sports Network (@SonySportsNetwk) September 29, 2026

Barely 10 days before the competition, Dhanda was hospitalized in Bhopal after a severe bout of suspected H1N1 flu and could not eat for five days. Her participation and form were uncertain, but the Jind-born shooter returned to training and produced a composed qualifying campaign, finishing joint-118 with Qatar’s Ray Bassil for a Games record.

HOW DID NEERU OVERCOME A HEALTH FEAR?

Dhanda started qualifying strongly, finishing the opening four rounds with 95 out of 100 to take the overall lead. Despite the worsening weather, she held her nerve in the fifth round and shot 23 to finish on 118, securing a place in the eight-shooter final.

She carried that composure into the final, where she scored 28 hits, beating the previous Asian record of 24. China’s Sun Yunong took silver with 26, while Kuwait’s Abdulmalik Hajar took bronze with 21.

The gold capped off a breakthrough year for Dhanda. In July, she became the first Indian to win an individual gold in the ISSF World Cup trap, adding another major milestone to a season that has now taken her to the top podium of the Asian Games.

WHY DOES RAJA RANDHIR SINGH MATTER?

Dhand’s tribute to Randhir had a special meaning. His men’s individual trap gold at the 1978 Asian Games was India’s first in the event, while Dhanda has now become the first Indian woman to win an individual medal at the Asian Games in trap.

Her own entry into the sport also came through a family connection. Her cousin Lakshay Sheoran, who won silver in trap at the 2018 Asian Games, encouraged her to take up shooting, with her own gun helping her get started before she moved to the Madhya Pradesh Shooting Academy in Bhopal.

Dhanda has already contributed to India’s medal haul in Nagoya by helping the women’s trap team of Aashima Ahlawat and Manisha Keer to silver. The Indian trio finished second behind China, while the Indian men’s trapeze team finished sixth.

The men’s trap team of Shapath Bharadwaj, Kynan Chenai and Ahvar Rizvi finished sixth. Bharadwaj reached the singles final after winning the shoot-off for eighth place in qualifying, but finished eighth. India’s second shooting gold of the Games was earlier won by Suruchi Singh and Kamaljeet in the mixed team 10m air pistol event.

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