India’s much-awaited individual gold medal finally arrived at the 2026 Asian Games as Neeru Dhanda won the Women’s trap competition in Aichi-Nagoya on Tuesday. The 26-year-old shot a fantastic 28 out of 30 in the final to set a new Asian record in the event. Her gold came after she had already helped India secure silver in the women’s trap competition earlier in the day, making Tuesday a significant double for Dhanda and the Indian shooting contingent.

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Neeru Dhanda Sets Asian Record in Women’s Trap

In the final, Dhanda was equal first with Ray Bassil from Qatar in the qualifiers, both scoring 118 hits. She continued her run in the final to finish with 28 hits from 30 shots, enough to take gold and set a new Asian record. China Sun Yonong finished second with 26, and Kuwait’s Hazar Abdulmalik took third position with 21. The result gave Dhanda a comfortable lead at the conclusion of the final and another major success in a breakthrough year for the Haryana shooter.

This is a landmark win in the history of Indian women’s trap shooting. Dhanda was the first Indian woman to win a women’s individual trap gold medal in the Asian Games. She also gave India's first-ever medal of any colour in the women’s individual trap event at the Asian Games, as per the report provided.

India’s First Individual Gold of the 2026 Asian Games

Dhanda claimed India’s first individual gold of the Aichi-Nagoya Games, ending a 10-day drought in the country. It was India’s fifth gold medal of the ongoing Asian Games and second in shooting. India had already earned gold through the women's cricket team, the men's and women’s kabaddi teams, and the 10m mixed pistol competition of Suruchi Singh and Kamaljeet. Dhanda earned the country one more gold, but in an individual event.

Her achievement also carries significance beyond the medal count. This was the first time for an Asian Games medal podium in the Women’s trap event to be achieved by a girl from India.

Silver Medal Came Before Dhanda’s Gold

Dhanda’s individual success came after taking silver in the team trap (Women’s) event. Dhanda participated alongside Manisha Keer and Aashima Ahlawat in the event as India took second place in the team competition. That result earned the first medal for the Women’s trap team before Dhanda shot in the individual final. It was an action-packed day for the Indian shooter, who had to maintain her focus across both competitions.

After a successful period of performing on the international and national stage, the trio from India were placed in the top three to compete at the Asian Games. The National Rifle Association of India’s official selection list confirms Dhanda, Keer and Ahlawat as India’s women’s trap representatives at the Games.

Who Is Neeru Dhanda?

Dhanda originates from the Jind district of Haryana and was encouraged to pursue sport by her family. Her initial sporting role model was her fellow Jind athlete and cousin, Lakshya Sheron, who earned silver in trap men's at the 2018 Asian Games. Her family then shifted to Shivpuri in Madhya Pradesh, where she continued her training and also joined the Madhya Pradesh academy. As per the provided report, her father supported her in the beginning by having her practise on tin cans before her actual training.

Dhanda is also building a good international track record. In 2026, she made history by becoming the first Indian woman ever to win an individual trap gold at an ISSF World Cup, doing so in Lonato (Italy), a feat verified by the Union Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports in July. She had already achieved gold in both the individual and Women’s team trap events at the Asian Championship before the Asian Games.

A Historic Day for Indian Shooting

Dhanda’s gold at the Asian Games marks yet another noteworthy achievement in her career for this year. An Asian record 28-point final from Dhanda took individual honours and placed the performance in the Asian Games record books. For India, the result also rewrites the story of women’s trap at the Asian Games. Dhanda’s gold is also the country’s first individual gold medal in the event and the first Women’s individual trap medal at the Asian Games.

The 2026 Asian Games campaign is, in this way, another chapter in Dhanda’s rising career on the international stage. Her gold, coming after the team silver earlier that day, made her one of the central names in India’s shooting medal haul at the Games.

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Mandeep Rawat is the Director & Editor at sportselite.in, bringing a genuine interest in Sports and the stories behind every contest. His approach to Elite Sports focuses on clear reporting, meaningful context, and the details that matter to fans. At sportselite.in, Mandeep works to keep coverage informative, engaging and easy to follow, covering the people, performances, rivalries and moments that give Sports their character.

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