Neeru Dhanda wins historic women's trap gold at 2026 Asian Games with Asian record
Synopsis
Neeru Dhanda just made history twice in one day — first clinching India's first-ever women's trap individual gold at the Asian Games with an Asian record score of 28, then adding a silver in the team event. It caps a remarkable 2026 for a shooter who earlier became the first Indian woman to win an individual ISSF World Cup gold in the trap discipline.
Key Takeaways
Neeru Dhanda won gold in the women's trap individual event at the 2026 Asian Games on 29 September , setting an Asian record score of 28 .
She is the first Indian woman to win a gold medal in the trap event, and the first Indian ever to medal in the trap individual category at the Asian Games.
Dhanda also won a silver medal in the women's trap team event alongside Aashima Ahlawat and Manisha Keer , with a combined team score of 328 .
This is India's second shooting gold and fifth overall gold at the Aichi-Nagoya 2026 Asian Games.
Earlier in 2026, Dhanda became the first Indian woman to win an individual ISSF World Cup gold in women's trap at Lonato, Italy .
Indian trap shooter Neeru Dhanda clinched a landmark gold medal in the women's trap individual event at the 2026 Asian Games on Tuesday, 29 September, setting an Asian record score of 28 in the final at the Aichi Prefecture General Shooting Gallery in Nagoya, Japan. With this victory, Dhanda became the first Indian woman ever to win a gold medal in the trap event in Asian Games history — and the first Indian to medal in the trap individual category at the continental showpiece.
A Record-Breaking Final
Dhanda had topped the qualification round with a score of 118, entering the final as the frontrunner. Her composure was tested when her first miss arrived on the ninth shot, briefly pushing her down to third place. She responded with remarkable precision, recording 19 hits in 20 shots across the third and fourth series to reclaim the lead. A miss in the fifth series did little to shake her momentum, and she sealed the gold with a perfect five hits in the final series, finishing with an Asian record tally of 28.
Yunong Sun of China claimed silver with a score of 26, while Kuwait took bronze with 21.
Silver in Team Event Too
Earlier on the same day, Dhanda also won a silver medal in the women's trap team event alongside teammates Aashima Ahlawat and Manisha Keer. The Indian trio posted a combined score of 328 over three days of the 125-shot qualification round, narrowly fending off the Kuwait challenge to claim silver. The double-medal haul in a single day underscored Dhanda's exceptional form at the Games.
India's Medal Tally Gets a Boost
The gold is India's second shooting gold at this edition of the Asian Games and the country's fifth gold overall in Aichi-Nagoya 2026. The result continues India's improving trajectory in shooting disciplines at the continental level, building on a series of strong performances across rifle, pistol, and shotgun events in recent years.
A Trailblazer on the World Stage
Dhanda's Asian Games triumph is the latest chapter in a breakthrough year. Earlier in 2026, she became the first Indian woman to win an individual gold at an ISSF World Cup, claiming top honours in the women's trap event at the Shotgun World Cup in Lonato, Italy. She also secured a bronze medal in the trap mixed team event at the ISSF World Cup in Almaty, Kazakhstan. Her rise represents a significant milestone for Indian shotgun shooting, a discipline that has historically trailed rifle and pistol in producing world-class individual talent.
With her Asian record now on the books, Dhanda is expected to be a strong contender at upcoming global competitions as she builds toward future ISSF World Championships and Olympic cycles.
Point of View
A discipline long overshadowed by rifle and pistol at the elite level. That the same athlete claimed both an individual world cup gold and an Asian Games gold in the same calendar year, while simultaneously helping the team to silver, points to a depth of preparation that goes beyond individual brilliance. The bigger question now is institutional: can India's shooting federation build on this moment with systemic support for trap and skeet disciplines, or will Dhanda remain a solitary peak in an otherwise underdeveloped terrain? History suggests the latter is the risk — India has produced trailblazers before without sustained follow-through.
NationPress
29 Sept 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What record did Neeru Dhanda set at the 2026 Asian Games?
Neeru Dhanda set an Asian record score of 28 in the women's trap individual final at the 2026 Asian Games in Nagoya, Japan, on 29 September. This surpassed the previous Asian record in the event.
Is Neeru Dhanda the first Indian to win a trap gold at the Asian Games?
Yes, Neeru Dhanda is the first Indian woman to win gold in the trap individual event in Asian Games history. She is also the first Indian — male or female — to win any medal in the trap individual category at the continental Games.
How did Neeru Dhanda perform in the final?
Dhanda topped the qualification with a score of 118 and recovered from a brief dip to third place after her ninth shot to finish with 19 hits in 20 shots across the middle series. She sealed gold with a perfect final series of five hits, totalling an Asian record 28.
What other medals did India win in shooting at the 2026 Asian Games?
India claimed two shooting golds at the 2026 Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games, with Neeru Dhanda's women's trap individual gold being the second. Dhanda also won a silver in the women's trap team event alongside Aashima Ahlawat and Manisha Keer.
What is Neeru Dhanda's international record before the Asian Games?
Earlier in 2026, Dhanda became the first Indian woman to win an individual ISSF World Cup gold in women's trap at the Shotgun World Cup in Lonato, Italy. She also won a bronze in the trap mixed team event at the ISSF World Cup in Almaty, Kazakhstan.
