Rajnath Singh hails silver for India in Women's Trap Team shooting
Synopsis
Union Defence Minister Rajnath Singh congratulated Neeru Dhanda, Aashima Ahlawat and Manisha Keer on clinching the Silver Medal in the Women's Trap Team event at the Asian Games 2026 in Aichi-Nagoya, Japan, hailing it as 'another fine chapter in India's sporting journey.'
Key Takeaways
Neeru Dhanda , Aashima Ahlawat , and Manisha Keer won the Silver Medal in the Women's Trap Team event at Asian Games 2026 .
The Games are being held in Aichi-Nagoya, Japan .
Union Defence Minister Rajnath Singh publicly congratulated the trio on 29 September 2026 .
Shooting has historically been one of India's stronger medal-contributing disciplines at the Asian Games.
The silver adds to India's overall medal haul from the shooting range at this edition of the Games.
Three Indian shooters just added a silver to the nation's tally at the Asian Games 2026 — and Union Defence Minister Rajnath Singh was quick to mark the moment. On Tuesday, 29 September 2026, Singh took to X to congratulate Neeru Dhanda, Aashima Ahlawat, and Manisha Keer on winning the Silver Medal in the Women's Trap Team event.
Singh called it 'another fine chapter in India's sporting journey,' and expressed hope that the trio would 'continue to inspire with their excellence and bring greater glory to India.' The warm acknowledgement from one of the government's most senior cabinet members underscores how seriously India's political establishment now tracks its athletes on the Asian stage.
Trap shooting and India's Asian Games medal trail
Shooting has long been one of the disciplines where India punches above its weight at the Asian Games. The trap format — where shooters fire at clay targets launched into the air — demands both explosive reflexes and disciplined technique. A team silver in the women's event is a meaningful result, placing the trio just one step from the top of the podium in a fiercely competitive field.
Dhanda, Ahlawat and Keer: three names to remember
Neeru Dhanda, Aashima Ahlawat, and Manisha Keer have each built their credentials in trap shooting on the domestic and international circuit. Their combined performance at Aichi-Nagoya, Japan — the host city of the 2026 Asian Games — delivers a silver that will add weight to India's overall shooting contingent medal count at this edition of the Games.
India's flag continues to rise on the shooting range. With more events still to unfold at Aichi-Nagoya, this silver could well be the first of several more headlines from the Indian shooting squad.
Point of View
Signalling state-level endorsement of non-cricket disciplines. The Women's Trap Team silver is part of a broader pattern in which Indian shooting regularly delivers medals at continental games, lending the sport political and institutional visibility it once lacked. Rajnath Singh's personal acknowledgement — rather than a generic ministry statement — reinforces the government's effort to project itself as a champion of women athletes. How the full shooting contingent fares at Aichi-Nagoya will be watched closely as a barometer of India's multi-sport ambitions ahead of the 2028 Olympic cycle.
NationPress
29 Sept 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Who won the silver medal in Women's Trap Team at Asian Games 2026?
Neeru Dhanda, Aashima Ahlawat and Manisha Keer won the Silver Medal in the Women's Trap Team shooting event at the Asian Games 2026.
Where are the Asian Games 2026 being held?
The Asian Games 2026 are being held in Aichi-Nagoya, Japan.
What is Women's Trap Team shooting?
Women's Trap Team is a shooting discipline where athletes fire at clay targets launched into the air; a team event combines the scores of multiple shooters competing together.
Why did Rajnath Singh congratulate the shooters?
As Union Defence Minister and a senior government leader, Rajnath Singh extended public congratulations to Neeru Dhanda, Aashima Ahlawat and Manisha Keer after they secured silver for India in the Women's Trap Team event at Asian Games 2026.
How has India performed in shooting at recent Asian Games?
Shooting has been one of India's stronger medal-contributing disciplines at the Asian Games, with Indian athletes regularly featuring on the podium across rifle, pistol and trap events at recent editions.
