Neeru Dhanda Wins Women’s Trap Gold, Takes India to Fifth Gold at Asian Games 2026

Indian athlete Neeru Dhanda took home the women’s individual trap gold at the Asian Games 2026 that was held in Aichi-Nagoya and gave India its fifth gold medal in the Games. In the eight-shooter finals, Neeru Dhanda amassed 26 points and finished ahead of Sun Yunong from China and Hajar Abdulmalik from Kuwait who amassed 21 points each. Ray Bassil from Qatar was fourth with 16 points. Dhanda had earlier led in the qualifying round, which helped her in the eventuality of a tied final round.

How Neeru Dhanda Won the Trap Final Round

The Indian shooter had a brilliant start when she shot all five targets in the first series. In the second series, she missed one target and recovered well from there.

She had another perfect performance in the third series and continued her dominance in the next rounds.

In the fourth round, she missed one target. In total, she had hit 19 out of 20 targets.

After 25 shots, Dhanda was leading with 23 hits, while Sun Yunong and Hajar Abdulmalik had both amassed 21 points. Subsequently, Hajar Abdulmalik was eliminated, and Dhanda and Sun Yunong contested for the gold.

Asian Games 2026 Shooting Medals of Neeru Dhanda

Dhanda clinched the individual gold on the same day when she had also won the silver for India in the women’s trap team competition.

Event Indian Shooters & Result

• Women’s Individual Trap: Neeru Dhanda & Gold
• Women’s Trap Team: Neeru Dhanda, Aashima Ahlawat, Manisha Keer & Silver

In the team competition, India managed to score 328 points. Gold was won by China with 346 points whereas Kuwait bagged the bronze medal with 325 points. Dhanda emerged as the top scorer of India in the team competition by scoring 118 out of 125 points.

Medals Tally of India after Neeru Dhanda’s Gold Medal

With Dhanda’s gold medal, India managed to win 47 medals at Asian Games 2026.

Medal India’s Tally

• Gold: 5
• Silver: 21
• Bronze: 21
• Total: 47

Shooting Career of Neeru Dhanda

Apart from winning gold at the 2026 Asian Games, Neeru Dhanda has also had a successful year. She won her first-ever ISSF World Cup gold in the women’s trap category at Lonato, Italy, in July. She has also won the Asian Championship gold medal.

Dhanda has connections with the Indian Army Marksmanship Unit, and she currently holds the post of Naib Subedar.

The sport of shooting was inspired in Dhanda when she was motivated by her cousin Lakshay Sheoran, who won a silver medal in the men’s trap event at the 2018 Asian Games in Jakarta.