In a landmark day for Indian shooting at the Asian Games 2026 in Aichi-Nagoya, Japan, Naib Subedar Neeru Dhanda of the Indian Army etched her name in the record books by becoming the first Indian woman to win gold in the Women’s Trap individual event. Neeru, the 26-year-old from Jind, Haryana, delivered a masterclass of precision and composure, topping qualification with a Games-record 118 out of 125 before sealing gold in the final with an Asian-record 28 out of 30 hits.
Keywords: Neeru Dhanda, Asian Games, gold medal, Women’s Trap Asian Games 2026, Indian Army Marksmanship Unit, AMU, India trap team silver, Asian Games shooting India medals, Mhow, MP, India, Japan
Dhanda finished two clear of China’s Sun Yunong (26), with Kuwait’s Hajar Abdulmalik taking bronze on 21. Her qualification score matched Qatar’s Ray Bassil at the top of the standings, and the final performance shattered the previous Asian mark of 24. This triumph marked India’s first individual gold of the Games in shooting and the country’s maiden Asian Games gold in women’s trap, an event contested since Beijing 1990, while ending a long wait for individual trap glory following Randhir Singh’s men’s title in 1978.
Hours earlier, Dhanda anchored the Indian women’s trap team to silver alongside Havildar Manisha Keer and Aashima Ahlawat. The trio posted a combined 328 (Dhanda 118, Ahlawat 106, Keer 104), finishing behind China’s 346 while edging Kuwait’s 325 for the podium. The result underscored the depth of India’s shotgun contingent and added to a strong showing by Army shooters.
Dhanda, a Naib Subedar in the Corps of Military Police who trains at the Army Marksmanship Unit (AMU) in Mhow, has enjoyed a breakthrough year, including an ISSF World Cup gold in Lonato earlier in 2026. Her success, and that of fellow Army personnel like Keer, reflects the high standards at AMU under Commanding Officer Colonel Naren Babu Chalasani. Since taking charge, he has driven a focused, positive environment aimed at making the unit the nation’s premier sporting organisation, shielding it from distractions and leading from the front in the true spirit of a soldier.
India’s mixed trap pair of Dhanda and Kynan Chenai also advanced to the final after placing fourth following the third round, keeping further medal hopes alive. These achievements bring immense pride to the nation and the Indian Army, highlighting the seamless blend of military discipline and elite sporting excellence.
contact: drrajeshjauhri@gmail.com
Dr Rajesh Jauhri is a Journalist with an experience of over 25 years in Indian and foreign media, a Social Scientist, an Ac-complished Author, a Political & Strategic Analyst, a Marksman (Rifle & Pistol), an Orator, a Thinker and an Educationist. He holds a Ph.D. degree on “Impact of colonial heritage on Indian police”. He runs an NGO dedicated to the social and eco-nomic uplift of tribal communities in MP and two decades back, he established a school in a village of Indore district, providing education and moral values to children belonging to underprivileged and minority families. Has received multiple awards in various fields.