CM Saini Hails Neeru Dhanda's Historic ISSF World Cup Gold
Synopsis
Haryana Chief Minister Nayab Singh Saini hailed Neeru Dhanda's historic gold medal in the women's trap event at the ISSF Shotgun World Cup in Lonato, Italy — India's first-ever World Cup gold in the discipline — calling it an inspiration for the nation's daughters and youth.
Key Takeaways
Neeru Dhanda won India's first-ever World Cup gold medal in the women's trap event at the ISSF Shotgun World Cup in Lonato, Italy .
Haryana Chief Minister Nayab Singh Saini publicly congratulated Dhanda on 12 July 2026 , calling the feat a matter of national pride.
Saini framed the achievement as an inspiration for India's daughters and youth to pursue big dreams in sport.
Haryana is historically one of India's top contributors to the national shooting contingent at international events.
The Target Olympic Podium Scheme (TOPS) , active since 2014 , supports elite shooters like Dhanda with funding, coaching, and international exposure.
Dhanda's results in remaining 2026 ISSF World Cup stages will be key to her Olympic qualification prospects.
Haryana Chief Minister Nayab Singh Saini on Sunday, 12 July 2026, congratulated shooter Neeru Dhanda for winning India's first-ever World Cup gold medal in the women's trap event at the ISSF Shotgun World Cup held in Lonato, Italy, calling the achievement a matter of pride for the entire nation.
In his post on X, Saini wrote: 'भारत की बेटी नीरू ढांडा ने इटली के लोनाटो में आयोजित ISSF शॉटगन वर्ल्ड कप की महिला ट्रैप स्पर्धा में भारत के लिए पहला विश्व कप स्वर्ण पदक जीतकर इतिहास रच दिया है।' ('India's daughter Neeru Dhanda has created history by winning the first World Cup gold medal for India in the women's trap event of the ISSF Shotgun World Cup held in Lonato, Italy.')
Context
The ISSF Shotgun World Cup in Lonato is one of the marquee events on the international shooting calendar, regularly drawing elite competitors from across the globe in trap and skeet disciplines. Neeru Dhanda's gold in the women's trap category marks a historic first for India at this level of competition, elevating her standing among the country's top shooting talents.
Saini noted that Dhanda's 'historic success will inspire daughters and youth to dream big' — framing the medal not merely as an individual triumph but as a signal to the next generation of Indian athletes.
Policy Backdrop
India's improving performance in international shooting has been underpinned by the Target Olympic Podium Scheme (TOPS), launched in 2014, which provides elite shooters with financial support, specialised coaching, and access to international competitions. The scheme has been instrumental in building a competitive pipeline across disciplines, including shotgun events.
Haryana has historically been one of India's most prolific contributors to the national shooting contingent, with the state's sports infrastructure and grassroots academies nurturing talent that competes at the highest global levels. Dhanda's gold reinforces that legacy.
Stakeholders and Impact
The medal carries significance well beyond the podium. For women shooters across India, it demonstrates that world-class results in the technically demanding trap discipline are achievable. Youth athletes and state sports academies — particularly in Haryana — are likely to see renewed interest and enrolment in shotgun shooting programmes following this result.
At the institutional level, the achievement adds momentum to India's broader push for stronger showings at upcoming multi-sport events, with ISSF World Cup results feeding directly into Olympic qualification pathways.
What's Next
Attention will now turn to Neeru Dhanda's performance across the remaining 2026 ISSF World Cup stages, which will be critical for accumulating Olympic qualification points. A consistent run of results could cement her place in India's shooting squad for the next Olympic cycle.
Chief Minister Saini's public recognition also signals that state-level support and visibility for shooting sports in Haryana is likely to remain strong, potentially translating into further investment in training infrastructure and competitive exposure for young athletes.
Point of View
Saini connects individual excellence to national policy goals, reinforcing the logic of schemes like TOPS. The post also reflects a wider pattern among state executives of using social media to claim associative credit for international sporting success, building soft political capital ahead of electoral cycles. For Indian shooting as a discipline, the spotlight on a women's trap gold could accelerate institutional interest and funding in a category that has historically received less attention than rifle and pistol events.
NationPress
13 Jul 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Who is Neeru Dhanda and what did she win?
Neeru Dhanda is an Indian trap shooter who won India's first-ever World Cup gold medal in the women's trap event at the ISSF Shotgun World Cup held in Lonato, Italy, in July 2026.
What is the ISSF Shotgun World Cup?
The ISSF Shotgun World Cup is an international shooting competition organised by the International Shooting Sport Federation, featuring trap and skeet disciplines. Lonato, Italy, is one of its regular host venues.
Why did Haryana CM Nayab Singh Saini congratulate Neeru Dhanda?
Saini congratulated Dhanda because her gold medal is a historic first for India in the women's trap category at ISSF World Cup level, and Haryana has strong ties to Indian shooting, making the achievement a point of state and national pride.
What is the Target Olympic Podium Scheme (TOPS)?
TOPS is a Government of India initiative launched in 2014 that provides financial support, elite coaching, and international competition exposure to Indian athletes, including shooters, who have the potential to win Olympic medals.
How does Neeru Dhanda's gold medal affect Olympic qualification?
ISSF World Cup results contribute to Olympic qualification rankings, so Dhanda's gold in Lonato strengthens her position in the qualification standings for the next Olympic cycle, making her subsequent World Cup performances closely watched.
