Esha Singh, Neeru Dhanda felicitated by Sports Min Mandaviya for ISSF World Cup gold
Synopsis
Neeru Dhanda made history as the first Indian woman trap shooter to win ISSF World Cup gold — setting a national record of 121/125 in qualification along the way. Combined with Esha Singh's second World Cup gold of the year in Hangzhou, India's shooting bench strength ahead of the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics just got a significant boost.
Key Takeaways
Sports Minister Dr Mansukh Mandaviya felicitated Esha Singh and Neeru Dhanda in New Delhi on 30 July for their ISSF World Cup 2026 gold medals.
Neeru Dhanda became the first Indian woman trap shooter to win an ISSF World Cup gold, at Lonato, Italy , setting a national record of 121/125 in qualification.
Esha Singh , 21 , won the women's 25m pistol gold at the Hangzhou World Cup — her second World Cup gold of 2026 in the event.
Esha is in the TOPS Core group ; Neeru is in the TOPS Development group ; both are Khelo India Athletes .
Both shooters are preparing for the 2026 Asian Games and are among India's key prospects for the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics .
Union Minister of Youth Affairs and Sports Dr Mansukh Mandaviya on Thursday, 30 July felicitated Indian shooters Esha Singh and Naib Subedar Neeru Dhanda at New Delhi for their gold-medal performances at the ISSF World Cup 2026. The ceremony recognised two landmark achievements that have strengthened India's shooting pipeline ahead of the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics.
Historic Gold for Neeru Dhanda in Lonato
Neeru Dhanda, 26, from Jind district, Haryana, became the first Indian woman trap shooter to win a gold medal at an ISSF World Cup, clinching the title at the ISSF World Cup in Lonato, Italy. She also set a new national record in qualification, scoring 121 out of 125, before defeating former World Champion Carole Cormenier of France in a closely contested final.
A Naib Subedar in the Corps of Military Police, Neeru trains at the Army Marksmanship Unit (AMU) in Mhow. Her Lonato triumph came on the heels of a gold-medal performance at the 2025 Asian Shooting Championships, marking a rapid rise in international trap shooting.
Esha Singh's Second World Cup Gold of the Year
Esha Singh, 21 and a reigning Asian Games double silver medallist, claimed the women's 25m pistol gold at the ISSF World Cup in Hangzhou, China, edging past a strong Chinese challenge in the final. It was her second World Cup gold of 2026 in the event.
Esha's credentials in the discipline are already exceptional. She became the first Indian woman to win a World Championship medal in the women's 25m pistol — a bronze at Doha — and previously won the 25m pistol gold at the Munich World Cup with a world-record score of 43. She had earlier also won her maiden ISSF World Cup title in the 10m air pistol.
What the Government Said
Minister Mandaviya assured both athletes of sustained government backing. 'The Government is pushing hard and leaving no stones unturned to ensure you don't stay behind by any means in giving your best from every tournament. Shooting is one of our highest priority disciplines and is a prominent medal-winning sport for us looking ahead to the 2028 LA Olympics, the 2030 Commonwealth Games and so on. All we want is medals from you also at the Los Angeles 2028 Olympics,' Mandaviya said.
He also credited India's long-term athlete development ecosystem — including the Target Olympic Podium Scheme (TOPS), National Centres of Excellence, Khelo India, and scientific coaching support — for enabling such performances.
TOPS Support and Olympic Road Ahead
Arjuna Awardee Esha is part of the TOPS Core group, while Neeru is enrolled in the TOPS Development group. Both have also been designated Khelo India Athletes (KIAs). The pair is currently in preparation for the 2026 Asian Games, which will serve as a key qualifier and confidence-builder on the road to Los Angeles 2028.
With India's shooting contingent building momentum across disciplines, Esha and Neeru represent two of the country's most credible medal prospects at the upcoming Olympics.
Point of View
A discipline where the country has historically struggled to produce women's trap contenders. Esha Singh's back-to-back World Cup golds in the 25m pistol, meanwhile, suggest she is peaking at exactly the right time in the Olympic cycle. The real test will be whether TOPS and AMU support translates into podium finishes at the 2026 Asian Games, which will set the psychological tone heading into Los Angeles. India's shooting programme has delivered World Cup gold before without converting at the Olympics — the 2028 campaign needs a more structured performance pathway, not just felicitation ceremonies.
NationPress
30 Jul 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Who is Neeru Dhanda and what record did she set at the ISSF World Cup?
Neeru Dhanda is a 26-year-old trap shooter from Jind district, Haryana, and a Naib Subedar in the Corps of Military Police. She became the first Indian woman trap shooter to win a gold medal at an ISSF World Cup, setting a national record of 121 out of 125 in qualification at Lonato, Italy.
What did Esha Singh win at the ISSF World Cup 2026?
Esha Singh won the women's 25m pistol gold at the ISSF World Cup in Hangzhou, China. It was her second World Cup gold of 2026 in the event, and she previously also won the 25m pistol gold at the Munich World Cup with a world-record score of 43.
What government schemes support Esha Singh and Neeru Dhanda?
Esha Singh is part of the TOPS Core group under the Target Olympic Podium Scheme, while Neeru Dhanda is in the TOPS Development group. Both are also designated Khelo India Athletes and receive support through National Centres of Excellence and scientific coaching.
What are the next major targets for Esha Singh and Neeru Dhanda?
Both shooters are currently preparing for the 2026 Asian Games and are among India's key medal prospects for the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics. Sports Minister Mandaviya explicitly cited the LA 2028 Olympics and the 2030 Commonwealth Games as priority events.
Why is Neeru Dhanda's gold medal historically significant?
Neeru Dhanda's gold at Lonato makes her the first Indian woman to win an ISSF World Cup gold in trap shooting, a discipline where India had no previous women's World Cup winner. She also defeated former World Champion Carole Cormenier of France in the final.
