Asian Games 2026: Neeru Dhanda wins gold in women’s trap

Indian shooter Neeru Dhanda won the gold medal in the women’s trap event with an Asian record at the Asian Games 2026 in Aichi-Nagoya on Tuesday.The 26-year-old shooter hit 28 of 30 targets in the final at the Aichi Prefectural General Shooting Gallery, finishing two points ahead of China’s Sun Yunong. Kuwait’s Hajar Abdulmalik claimed the bronze with 21 hits.
Neeru’s score of 28 bettered the previous Asian record of 24. She became the first Indian woman to win an Asian Games gold medal in a shotgun event and India’s first individual medallist in women’s trap at the Games.Her victory marked India’s second shooting gold at the Asian Games 2026, after Suruchi Singh and Kamaljeet won the 10m air pistol mixed team title.

STORY | Neeru wins India's first ever women's trap gold at Asian Games, leads team to silver

Neeru Dhanda on Tuesday scripted history by becoming India's first shooter to win an Asian Games individual gold medal in the women's trap competition with a record-shattering score… pic.twitter.com/Gz2vt7FFH5

— Press Trust of India (@PTI_News) September 29, 2026

Neeru began the final with five perfect hits before missing one target in the second series. She responded with two consecutive perfect series to reach 19 hits from 20 targets and establish a two-point lead.After one more miss in the fifth series, Neeru closed with a perfect five to finish on 28 and secure the gold.She had topped the three-day qualification with 118 out of 125 targets. Neeru finished level with Qatar’s Ray Bassil before winning the shoot-off for the top qualification spot.
Earlier on Tuesday, Neeru had also helped India win silver in the women’s trap team event alongside Aashima Ahlawat and Manisha Keer. India finished with a combined score of 328, with Neeru contributing 118, while Aashima and Manisha scored 106 and 104, respectively.China won the team gold with 346, while Kuwait took bronze with 325.The gold capped a strong run of form for Neeru, who arrived in Aichi-Nagoya as the reigning Asian champion after winning the continental title in Shymkent in 2025.
In July, she became the first Indian woman trap shooter to win an ISSF World Cup gold, claiming the title in Lonato, Italy. She also topped qualification there with a national record of 121 out of 125 before scoring 27 in the final.In the men’s trap event, Shapath Bharadwaj was the only Indian to qualify for the individual final after winning a shoot-off for one of the remaining spots. He was the first shooter eliminated in the medal round after missing three of his 10 shots.
Kynan Chenai and Ahvar Rizvi failed to qualify for the final after scoring 115 and 107, respectively. The Indian men’s team of Shapath, Kynan and Ahvar finished sixth with 339.With Neeru’s individual gold and the women’s team silver, India’s shooting medal tally at the Asian Games 2026 has reached 14, comprising two gold, eight silver and four bronze medals.