Indian shotgun shooter Naib Subedar Neeru Dhanda made history at the ISSF World Cup in Lonato, Italy, becoming the first Indian woman trap shooter to claim a gold medal at the tournament. The 26-year-old shattered the national record with a qualification score of 121/125 before defeating former World Champion Carole Cormenier of France in a gripping final on 12 July.

A Historic Breakthrough for Indian Women's Trap

Dhanda's gold ends a long wait for Indian women's trap shooting at the elite international level. Her qualification score of 121/125 was not only enough to top the field but also set a new national record, signalling that the gap between Indian shooters and the world's best has narrowed considerably. The victory over Cormenier — a former world champion — underscored the scale of the achievement.

Speaking after her win, Dhanda described the emotional weight of the moment. 'Watching the national flag go up on the podium was an incredible feeling. It made me realise that the world's best shooters are well within our reach. We did not have a women's trap medal at this level for a very long time, so this gold finally breaks that barrier. I am confident that medals will now come much more consistently for India,' she said.

Composure Under Pressure

Competing against an experienced international field, Dhanda credited her mental discipline for carrying her through the high-stakes final. Rather than tracking her rivals' scores, she remained anchored to her own execution.

'When you compete alongside a world champion, you have to believe you are a champion too. I blocked out everything else and focused completely on my own routine. It didn't matter to me who was hitting or missing around me. Nothing is impossible when you stay calm, live in the present, and train with absolute focus,' Dhanda said.

The Road to Los Angeles 2028

Dhanda was clear that this gold is a launchpad, not a destination. With the National Camp ahead and major global assignments on the horizon, her sights are firmly set on Olympic qualification and ultimately a podium finish at the Los Angeles Olympics.

'This gold is a great start, but the real work begins now. We have the National Camp coming up, and my focus is completely on the World Championships and securing the Olympic quota. My ultimate goal is to win a gold medal at the Los Angeles Olympics, and our preparation for that dream starts right here,' she said.

Coach Peter Wilson's Verdict

India's Foreign Shotgun Coach Peter Wilson traced Dhanda's rise to her gold at the Asian Championships in Shymkent, which he described as the pivotal moment that convinced her she belonged at the top level. 'Neeru has improved tremendously, and winning in Shymkent last year gave her the belief that she belongs on the big stage. She has put in a massive amount of invisible hard work off the range, and this gold is a perfect reward for her perseverance. I want India to dominate the global shotgun circuit, not just participate,' Wilson said.

Wilson drew a parallel with British shooting history, likening Dhanda's breakthrough to Richard Faulds' Olympic gold for the UK at the 2000 Sydney Games, which inspired a generation of British shooters. 'When Richard Faulds won Olympic Gold for the UK in 2000, he broke the mould, and an entire generation of British shooters flourished because they realised they could win too. Neeru has done the exact same thing for India. She has shown the entire squad that global gold is possible, and we want to use this momentum to push our boundaries,' he added.

With the World Championships and Olympic quota rounds ahead, Dhanda's landmark victory is set to reshape ambitions across India's women's trap contingent.