Neeru Dhanda wins historic ISSF World Cup gold in Trap at Lonato 2026
Synopsis
Neeru Dhanda just rewrote Indian shooting history — becoming the first Indian woman to win an ISSF World Cup gold in Trap with a 27/30 finish in Lonato. The landmark result drew praise from Shikhar Dhawan and Kedar Jadhav, and signals India's growing ambition in shotgun disciplines ahead of the global calendar.
Key Takeaways
Neeru Dhanda won the ISSF World Cup Shotgun gold in the women's Trap event at Lonato, Italy on 13 July 2026 .
She hit 27 of 30 targets in the final at Trap Concaverde , finishing atop the field.
Dhanda is the first Indian woman to win an ISSF World Cup gold in the Trap discipline.
Former cricketers Shikhar Dhawan and Kedar Jadhav both congratulated her on X .
The gold is the biggest international result of Dhanda's career and adds to India's growing record on the shotgun circuit.
Trap shooter Neeru Dhanda on Saturday, 13 July became the first Indian woman to win an ISSF World Cup gold medal in the Trap event, clinching her maiden title at the ISSF World Cup Shotgun in Lonato, Italy. Competing at Trap Concaverde, Dhanda hit 27 of 30 targets in the women's Trap final to finish atop the field in a composed, pressure-defying performance.
A Historic Performance Under Pressure
Dhanda's medal-round display was marked by consistency and composure. Hitting 27 from 30 targets, she navigated the final without faltering, converting what had been a breakthrough international campaign into the biggest result of her career. The gold is not only a personal milestone but also the first ISSF World Cup gold by any Indian woman in the Trap discipline — a landmark for Indian shotgun shooting.
Cricket Stars Lead the Congratulations
The achievement drew praise from across Indian sport, including from two prominent former cricketers. Former India opener Shikhar Dhawan celebrated the win on X, writing: 'Jab mehnat nishane par lage, toh medal bhi sona hi hota hai (When hard work hits the target, the medal can only be gold). Bahut bahut badhai (Many congratulations) Neeru Dhanda on winning the World Cup trap gold. Proud moment for Indian sport.'
Former India all-rounder Kedar Jadhav also took to X to honour the achievement, posting: 'Proud moment for Indian Sports! Huge congratulations to Neeru Dhanda on creating history by clinching the GOLD medal in the Shotgun Trap event at the #ISSFWorldCup2026! To become the first Indian woman to win an ISSF World Cup Gold is an extraordinary milestone. You have made the entire nation incredibly proud. Keep shining and firing, Neeru! Wishing you many more victories ahead.'
What This Means for Indian Shooting
India has steadily built its reputation on the international shooting circuit, with strong performances across rifle and pistol events. Dhanda's gold in the Trap discipline — historically a more challenging frontier for Indian women — adds a significant new chapter to that story. Notably, this result comes as Indian shooting continues to position itself as a medal contender ahead of upcoming global competitions.
What's Next for Neeru Dhanda
With a maiden ISSF World Cup gold now secured, Dhanda enters the next phase of her international career with considerably heightened expectations. The result is likely to strengthen her case for selection in major upcoming events. Indian shooting officials and selectors will be watching closely as the circuit continues.
Point of View
But an outright ISSF World Cup win in a discipline where Indian women had not previously reached the top step. Indian shooting's pipeline has long been strongest in rifle and pistol; a Trap gold signals that the shotgun programme is maturing. The question now is whether the system can sustain this momentum — selection consistency, coaching continuity, and competition exposure will determine whether Dhanda's win is a breakthrough or a one-off. The congratulations from Dhawan and Jadhav are a measure of how far shooting has entered the mainstream sports conversation in India, but the real follow-through must come from federation support, not celebrity tweets.
NationPress
13 Jul 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Who is Neeru Dhanda and what did she achieve at the ISSF World Cup 2026?
Neeru Dhanda is an Indian trap shooter who became the first Indian woman to win an ISSF World Cup gold medal in the Trap event. She achieved this at the ISSF World Cup Shotgun held in Lonato, Italy, hitting 27 of 30 targets in the women's Trap final on 13 July 2026.
Where was the ISSF World Cup Shotgun 2026 held?
The ISSF World Cup Shotgun 2026 was held at Trap Concaverde in Lonato, Italy. Neeru Dhanda competed in and won the women's Trap event at this venue.
What did Shikhar Dhawan post about Neeru Dhanda?
Shikhar Dhawan congratulated Dhanda on X, writing: 'Jab mehnat nishane par lage, toh medal bhi sona hi hota hai. Bahut bahut badhai Neeru Dhanda on winning the World Cup trap gold. Proud moment for Indian sport.'
Why is Neeru Dhanda's gold medal considered historic?
It is historic because no Indian woman had previously won an ISSF World Cup gold medal in the Trap discipline. The win is also the biggest international result of Dhanda's career and marks a new milestone for Indian shotgun shooting.
How did Kedar Jadhav react to Neeru Dhanda's win?
Kedar Jadhav posted on X calling it a 'proud moment for Indian Sports' and described Dhanda's feat as 'an extraordinary milestone,' adding that she had 'made the entire nation incredibly proud.'
