CM Saini Hails Haryana's Neeru Dhanda for Asian Games Gold
Synopsis
Haryana CM Nayab Singh Saini praised Neeru Dhanda from Jind for winning a trap shooting gold medal at the Asian Games 2026 in Aichi-Nagoya, Japan, calling it a proud moment for Haryana and the entire nation.
Key Takeaways
Neeru Dhanda , a trap shooter from Jind, Haryana , won a gold medal at the Asian Games 2026 in Aichi-Nagoya, Japan .
Haryana CM Nayab Singh Saini publicly congratulated Dhanda on 29 September 2026 , calling her achievement 'historic.' CM Saini credited her success to 'years of hard work, discipline and dedication.' Haryana has a strong track record of producing elite shooters, supported by state academies and the central Target Olympic Podium Scheme (TOPS) launched in 2014 .
The Asian Games 2026 follow the 2023 Hangzhou edition , where India posted a record medal haul in the continental games.
A shooter from Jind, Haryana just put her name on the continental map. Neeru Dhanda claimed a gold medal in trap shooting at the Asian Games 2026, and Haryana Chief Minister Nayab Singh Saini was among the first to mark the moment — celebrating her on Tuesday, 29 September 2026 as a daughter who made the entire nation stand tall.
Posting in Hindi, CM Saini wrote: 'आज हरियाणा की बेटी ने पूरे देश का सीना गर्व से चौड़ा कर दिया!' — 'Today, Haryana's daughter has swelled the chest of the entire country with pride!' He called her gold medal a symbol of 'years of hard work, discipline and dedication,' and extended heartfelt congratulations along with best wishes for her future.
Jind's Golden Marksman
Neeru Dhanda is a trap shooter from Jind district — a Haryana heartland known for channelling raw athletic ambition into national-level competition. Trap shooting demands split-second judgement: the athlete fires at clay targets launched at speed from a throwing machine, with each miss final. Winning gold at the Asian Games level places Dhanda among the continent's very best. A career built on the range, one target at a time.
Haryana's Shooting Pipeline and Central Backing
Dhanda's triumph does not arrive in isolation. Haryana has long been one of India's most prolific states for producing competitive shooters, wrestlers and track athletes — a pipeline fed by state academies and, since 2014, by the central government's Target Olympic Podium Scheme (TOPS), which provides elite athletes with financial support, foreign training exposure and equipment grants. For shooters especially, that kind of structured backing can be the difference between a promising career and a medal platform.
The Asian Games 2026 are being held in Aichi-Nagoya, Japan, succeeding the 2023 Hangzhou edition where India returned with a record haul. With shooting events spread across the Games calendar, Dhanda's gold adds early momentum to India's tally — and puts the remaining events under fresh expectation.
State Pride as Policy Signal
Chief Ministers across India have made a habit of amplifying their state's sporting wins on social media — but the gesture carries weight beyond optics. Public recognition from the top office often precedes formal cash awards or infrastructure announcements for the winning athlete. Whether CM Saini follows the congratulation with a state felicitation or prize announcement will be worth watching in the days ahead.
For now, the scorecard reads clean: a girl from Jind, a gold medal, and a nation cheering. Cheer4Bharat — indeed.
Point of View
At a time when Indian shooting is building toward the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics. For Saini personally, spotlighting a Jind athlete deepens the BJP's grassroots connect in a state where rural sporting identity is a live political currency. The real test will come if the congratulation translates into a formal cash award or infrastructure pledge — a step that turns rhetoric into record.
NationPress
29 Sept 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Who is Neeru Dhanda and where is she from?
Neeru Dhanda is a trap shooter from Jind district in Haryana, India, who won a gold medal in trap shooting at the Asian Games 2026 held in Aichi-Nagoya, Japan.
What is trap shooting in the Asian Games?
Trap shooting is a clay-target shooting discipline in which athletes fire at clay targets launched at high speed from a throwing machine. It is a contested event at the Asian Games and other major international multi-sport competitions.
Where are the Asian Games 2026 being held?
The Asian Games 2026 are being held in Aichi-Nagoya, Japan. They follow the 2023 edition hosted in Hangzhou, China.
Why did Haryana CM Nayab Singh Saini congratulate Neeru Dhanda?
CM Saini congratulated Dhanda because she is from Haryana and won a gold medal in trap shooting at the Asian Games 2026, which he described as a historic achievement that filled the nation with pride.
What is the Target Olympic Podium Scheme (TOPS) and how does it help Indian shooters?
The Target Olympic Podium Scheme (TOPS) was launched by the Indian government in 2014 to provide elite athletes, including shooters, with financial support, foreign training opportunities and equipment grants to help them compete at the highest international levels.
