Neeru Dhanda named India's flag-bearer at Asian Games closing ceremony
Synopsis
Neeru Dhanda didn't just win medals at Nagoya 2026 — she rewrote history. The 27-year-old became the first Indian woman to win an Asian Games gold in trap shooting, then backed it up with another Asian record in the mixed team event less than 24 hours later. Her three-medal haul has earned her the honour of carrying India's flag at the closing ceremony on 4 October.
Key Takeaways
Neeru Dhanda named India's flag-bearer for the 2026 Asian Games closing ceremony in Nagoya on 4 October .
The 27-year-old trap shooter won two gold medals and one silver at the Aichi-Nagoya Games.
She became the first Indian woman to win an Asian Games gold in the individual trap discipline, setting an Asian record with a final score of 28 .
Dhanda and Kynan Chenai broke the mixed team trap Asian record with 34 hits , surpassing Qatar's previous mark of 33 .
The closing ceremony is scheduled at Nagoya City Mizuho Park Athletic Stadium between 2:30 pm and 4:00 pm IST .
Trap shooter Neeru Dhanda has been named India's flag-bearer for the closing ceremony of the 2026 Asian Games in Nagoya on Sunday, 4 October, recognising a standout individual campaign in which the 27-year-old claimed three medals — two gold and one silver — across shooting disciplines at the Aichi-Nagoya Games.
A Historic Run at the Range
Dhanda's medal tally at these Games began with a silver in the women's trap team event, partnering Aashima Ahlawat and Manisha Keer. The Indian trio posted a combined qualification score of 328 over three days, finishing behind gold medallists China, with Kuwait taking bronze.
She then made history in the individual trap event, becoming the first Indian woman to win an Asian Games gold in the discipline. Having topped qualification with a score of 118, Dhanda produced a final-round score of 28 to set a new Asian record and claim the top step of the podium.
Asian Record in Mixed Team Event
Less than 24 hours after her individual triumph, Dhanda returned to the range and delivered again — this time alongside Kynan Chenai in the trap mixed team event. The Indian pair recovered from a difficult start to finish with 34 hits, breaking the previous Asian record of 33 set by Qatar earlier in 2026. The back-to-back golds across two days underscored her consistency and mental resilience at the highest level.
The Honour of Leading India Out
Dhanda's three-medal haul established her as one of India's most decorated individual performers at these Games, earning her the distinction of carrying the tricolour at the closing ceremony. The ceremony is scheduled at the Nagoya City Mizuho Park Athletic Stadium between 2:30 pm and 4:00 pm IST on Sunday. It marks a fitting conclusion to an exceptional campaign in which Indian shooting once again proved a reliable source of medals at the continental stage.
India's Shooting Campaign in Context
Shooting has consistently been among India's strongest disciplines at the Asian Games, and Dhanda's performance at Nagoya 2026 adds a new chapter to that legacy. Notably, her individual gold — the first ever by an Indian woman in Asian Games trap — raises the benchmark for future generations in a discipline historically dominated by Asian shooting powerhouses. Her selection as flag-bearer also continues a recent tradition of honouring top-performing athletes with the closing ceremony role, placing her alongside a distinguished group of Indian sporting icons.
Point of View
Across individual and mixed team formats, within 24 hours of each other, is a level of performance that demands recognition beyond medal tallies. What is easy to miss in the celebration is the structural story: India's women in trap shooting have historically been invisible at the continental level, and a single extraordinary athlete has shifted that overnight. The question now is whether the federation can build a pipeline around this moment or whether Dhanda's achievement remains an outlier rather than a turning point.
NationPress
2 Oct 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Why was Neeru Dhanda chosen as India's flag-bearer for the Asian Games 2026 closing ceremony?
Neeru Dhanda was chosen as India's flag-bearer because of her exceptional performance at the 2026 Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games, where she won two gold medals and a silver in trap shooting. She also set two Asian records during the Games, making her one of India's standout performers.
What records did Neeru Dhanda set at the 2026 Asian Games?
Dhanda set an Asian record in the individual trap final with a score of 28, becoming the first Indian woman to win an Asian Games gold in the discipline. She then set another Asian record of 34 hits alongside Kynan Chenai in the trap mixed team event, surpassing Qatar's previous mark of 33.
When and where is the 2026 Asian Games closing ceremony?
The closing ceremony of the 2026 Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games will be held on Sunday, 4 October, at the Nagoya City Mizuho Park Athletic Stadium, between 2:30 pm and 4:00 pm IST.
Who were Neeru Dhanda's teammates in the women's trap team event?
Dhanda partnered Aashima Ahlawat and Manisha Keer in the women's trap team event, with the Indian trio finishing second behind China with a combined qualification score of 328 to claim the silver medal.
Who is Neeru Dhanda's mixed team partner at the 2026 Asian Games?
Neeru Dhanda partnered Kynan Chenai in the trap mixed team event at the 2026 Asian Games. The pair recovered from a slow start to win gold with 34 hits, setting a new Asian record in the process.
