Asian Games 2026: India women's trap team wins silver in Nagoya with score of 328
Synopsis
Only four years after picking up a gun, Aashima Ahlawat stood on an Asian Games podium in Nagoya — and credits India's rain-soaked domestic trials for giving her team the edge when others buckled under difficult conditions. The women's trap team silver, scored 328 against China's gold-winning 346, is the latest leap in one of Indian shooting's fastest career arcs.
Key Takeaways
India's women's trap team — Aashima Ahlawat , Neeru Dhanda , and Manisha Keer — won silver at the Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games on 29 September .
India finished with a combined score of 328 ; China won gold with 346 , Kuwait took bronze with 325 .
Rainy conditions helped India move from a bronze position to silver, as other nations struggled to cope.
Aashima took up shooting in 2021 , joined the junior team in 2023 , and became a senior in 2025 .
Her senior season has already yielded an Asian Championships individual bronze, team gold , and now an Asian Games team silver .
India's Aashima Ahlawat, Neeru Dhanda, and Manisha Keer claimed the women's trap team silver medal at the Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games on Tuesday, 29 September, finishing with a combined score of 328 at the Aichi Pref. General Shooting Gallery. The result is a landmark moment for Aashima, who took up shooting only in 2021 and now holds an Asian Games medal barely a year into her senior career.
How India Clinched Silver
China claimed gold with a dominant combined score of 346, while Kuwait took bronze with 325, placing India comfortably in second place. The margin between silver and bronze — just three points — underlined how fiercely contested the event was, with Qatar and Kuwait pushing India through the final stages of competition.
Conditions proved to be a decisive factor. Rain swept through the venue during the event, and while several competing nations struggled to adapt, the Indian trio held their composure. India reportedly moved up from a bronze-medal position to silver during the disrupted final stretch.
Aashima: From Rain-Soaked Trials to Asian Games Podium
Aashima attributed India's resilience to the demanding conditions of domestic competition back home. 'We are used to shooting in the rain in India. Our selection trials are also in such conditions. And our training is also in such conditions. So, it didn't make much difference to us. We didn't choke because of this weather. But, I think many countries were not expecting this. And we pushed in this weather. And we got a silver medal,' she said.
For a shooter who only picked up a gun four years ago, the emotion of the moment was palpable. 'This medal means a lot to me. Because when I started shooting, I always wanted to join an Asian Games team and win a medal. So, when I got this medal, I couldn't believe that it happened. This feeling is very good. And it feels like life has come to a full circle,' Aashima said.
A Career That Has Accelerated Rapidly
Aashima's rise through Indian shooting has been remarkably swift. She joined the junior Indian shooting team in 2023, competed at the junior level through 2023 and 2024, then stepped into the senior setup in 2025. In her first full senior season, she won an individual bronze and a team gold at the Asian Championships before adding this Asian Games team silver — all within roughly twelve months of senior-level competition.
'I started shooting in 2021. And in 2023, I joined the junior Indian shooting team. In 2023 and 2024, I was a junior. And in 2025, I became a senior and joined the team. And I got a medal in the Asian Championships, an individual bronze and team gold. And today, I got a team silver. So, I am very happy,' she said.
What's Next for Aashima
With the medal secured, Aashima's immediate thoughts turned to home. 'I am waiting to reach Delhi. To meet my family and friends. And I would like to celebrate with them,' she said. Asked who she would dedicate the medal to, her answer was immediate: 'To my mom.' The silver adds to a growing haul for Indian shooting at the Aichi-Nagoya Games, and places Aashima among the country's most promising young trap shooters heading into the Olympic cycle.
Point of View
Yet this squad leveraged domestic trial conditions — routinely criticised as logistically inconsistent — into a competitive advantage on the Asian Games stage. The four-year runway from beginner to Asian Games silver medallist also raises a structural question: how many talents in non-marquee events are being left undiscovered simply because the pathway infrastructure isn't as visible? The women's trap silver deserves more than a footnote in the Nagoya tally.
NationPress
29 Sept 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
How did India's women's trap team perform at the Asian Games 2026?
India's women's trap team of Aashima Ahlawat, Neeru Dhanda, and Manisha Keer won the silver medal at the Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games on 29 September with a combined score of 328. China took gold with 346 and Kuwait claimed bronze with 325.
Who is Aashima Ahlawat?
Aashima Ahlawat is a young Indian trap shooter who began the sport in 2021. She joined the junior national team in 2023, transitioned to the senior setup in 2025, and has since won an Asian Championships individual bronze, a team gold, and now an Asian Games team silver.
Why did rainy conditions help India at the Asian Games trap event?
According to Aashima, Indian shooters regularly train and compete in rain during domestic selection trials, making adverse weather conditions less disruptive for them than for other nations. The team reportedly moved from a bronze-medal position to silver as rival teams struggled to cope.
Who did India compete against closely in the women's trap team event?
India competed closely with Qatar and Kuwait over the course of the event, according to Aashima. Kuwait ultimately finished third with a score of 325, just three points below India's silver-medal tally of 328.
What are Aashima Ahlawat's plans after the Asian Games?
Aashima said her immediate priority is returning to Delhi to celebrate with her family and friends. She dedicated the medal to her mother.
