CM Fadnavis hails Dhanda-Chenai Asian Games trap gold
Synopsis
Shooters Neeru Dhanda and Kynan Chenai struck gold in the Trap Mixed Team event at the 2026 Asian Games, posting 34 hits out of 40 to set a new Asian Record and win India's first-ever gold in the discipline. CM Devendra Fadnavis led the congratulations.
Key Takeaways
Neeru Dhanda and Kynan Chenai won gold in the Trap Mixed Team event at the 2026 Asian Games .
The pair scored 34 hits out of 40 , setting a new Asian Record in the discipline.
This is India's first-ever gold in the Trap Mixed Team event at the Asian Games.
Maharashtra CM Devendra Fadnavis publicly congratulated the duo on September 30, 2026 .
India's shooting programme has grown steadily since the launch of the Target Olympic Podium Scheme (TOPS) in 2014.
The result holds significance for 2028 Los Angeles Olympics qualification momentum in shooting events.
A record-setting partnership, a first-ever gold, and a date stamped permanently in Indian shooting history. Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis took to X on Wednesday, September 30, 2026, to celebrate shooters Neeru Dhanda and Kynan Chenai after the pair clinched gold in the Trap Mixed Team event at the 2026 Asian Games — and did so in record-breaking fashion.
Dhanda and Chenai posted 34 hits out of 40 in the final, a score that not only secured the gold medal but also established a new Asian Record for the discipline. It is India's first-ever gold in the Trap Mixed Team event at the Asian Games — a milestone that no Indian shooting pair had claimed in all previous editions of the continental Games.
What 34 out of 40 means on the shooting range
In trap shooting, each clay target flung from a bunker travels fast and unpredictably. A mixed-team final demands near-flawless coordination between a male and female shooter across alternating stations. Hitting 34 of 40 targets at record pace signals a partnership firing at the very top of its technical range — composure, timing, and split-second decision-making executed under full competitive pressure.A decade of shooting investment bearing gold
India's rise on continental shooting podiums has been no accident. The Target Olympic Podium Scheme (TOPS), launched in 2014, channelled dedicated funding into elite-level training, foreign exposure, and coaching for shooters alongside athletes from other Olympic disciplines. The Indian shooting contingent has been among the most decorated at successive Asian Games, building a pipeline of talent that now routinely challenges the region's best. The Dhanda–Chenai gold adds a landmark 'first-ever' to that growing ledger.Eyes on the road to Los Angeles 2028
The 2026 Asian Games cycle sits squarely inside the qualification window for the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics. Strong performances at continental and ISSF World Cup stages feed directly into Olympic quota allocation for shooting events. A gold and an Asian Record in a mixed-team format carries both the medal prestige and the momentum that selection panels and federations will note closely over the coming qualification rounds. India entered the 2026 Asian Games with expectations — and Neeru Dhanda and Kynan Chenai just handed the nation a benchmark that the continent will have to aim past.Point of View
Especially in Olympic-pathway disciplines. The 'first-ever' tag in a technical mixed-team format signals India is now competing for podiums in events it previously ceded to China, South Korea, and Qatar. With Los Angeles 2028 qualification cycles running, this Asian Record will resonate well beyond the medal ceremony.
NationPress
30 Sept 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Who are Neeru Dhanda and Kynan Chenai?
Neeru Dhanda and Kynan Chenai are Indian trap shooters who competed together in the Trap Mixed Team event at the 2026 Asian Games , winning gold with a new Asian Record score of 34 out of 40 .
What is the Trap Mixed Team event in shooting?
The Trap Mixed Team event pairs one male and one female shooter who alternate stations and shoot at fast-moving clay targets launched from a bunker, with the combined hits determining the team score.
Did India win gold in shooting at the 2026 Asian Games?
Yes. Neeru Dhanda and Kynan Chenai won gold in the Trap Mixed Team event at the 2026 Asian Games , recording 34 hits out of 40 to set a new Asian Record.
What is India's best result in trap shooting at the Asian Games?
The 2026 Asian Games gold by Dhanda and Chenai marks India's first-ever gold in the Trap Mixed Team event at the Asian Games, a historic first for Indian shooting in this discipline.
What is the Target Olympic Podium Scheme (TOPS)?
The Target Olympic Podium Scheme (TOPS) , launched in 2014 , is an Indian government programme that provides dedicated funding, training, and foreign exposure to elite athletes — including shooters — to help them compete at the highest international levels.
