Neeru Dhanda: From cans and borrowed guns to World Cup history and Asian Games gold

India’s Neeru Dhanda celebrates after helping the women’s trap team win silver at the 2026 Asian Games in Nagoya. Dhanda also qualified for the singles final after finishing joint second in qualifying with a score of 118/125. From inspiring her cousin Lakhsay Sheron’s Asian Games medals to winning one herself, Neeru Dhanda has completed a remarkable journey – creating a piece of history for Indian shooting in the process.The 26-year-old Indian shooter shot a stunning 28/30 in the women’s trap final to clinch gold at the Asian Games on Tuesday. China’s Sun Yunong finished second with 26, while Kuwait’s Hajar Abdulmalik took bronze with 21.Dhanda’s 28 also eclipsed the previous Asian record of 24. The Indian had already made her intentions known by dominating qualifying with 118 shots from 125, and she carried that form into the six-shot final, where she achieved the biggest result of her career in the process to secure India’s first individual gold medal of the 2026 Games and take the country’s tally to five gold medals.Earlier in the day, Dhanda played a central role in the Indian women’s team’s trap silver, joining Aashima Ahlawat and Manisha Keer to finish second behind China.Dhanda’s triumph comes just months after she broke through at the ISSF World Championships in Lonato, Italy. In July, she became the first Indian woman to win an individual trap gold medal at the ISSF World Cup.
Asian Games Full coverage|Medal total|ScheduleThe Asian Games gold now gives the World Cup success a continental dimension. Dhanda arrived in Aichi-Nagoya as the reigning Asian champion having won gold at the 2025 Asian Shooting Championships. She also had a mixed team bronze at the ISSF World Cup in Almaty earlier this year.

From cans to Indian Army and World Cup glory

Dhanda was inspired to shoot after watching her maternal cousin Lakshay Sheoran win a silver medal in men’s trap at the 2018 Asian Games. Sheoran also lent her his gun when she started her journey in the sport. A few years later, Dhanda followed him onto the Asian Games podium, but went one better when he won the gold.The rise was supported by the Indian Army, where Dhanda serves as a Naib Subedar in the Military Police Corps. He trains at the Army Marksmanship Unit in Mhow and works with foreign coach Peter Wilson, Olympic champion in trap from London 2012. He is also part of the Target Olympic Podium Scheme development group.