Neeru Dhanda’s journey to Asian Games 2026 gold is not just a story about one perfect performance. It is a story of family inspiration, hard work, setbacks and incredible determination. The 26-year-old shooter from Haryana’s Jind district scripted history on September 29 by becoming the first Indian woman to win an individual trap gold medal at the Asian Games.
Who is Neeru Dhanda?
Neeru Dhanda has emerged as one of India’s leading trap shooters. She is also a Naib Subedar in the Indian Army’s Corps of Military Police and trains at the Army Marksmanship Unit in Mhow. She is part of the Target Olympic Podium Scheme’s Development group and has also been a Khelo India athlete.
Her journey in shooting began with a strong family connection. Neeru was inspired by her cousin Lakshay Sheoran, who won a silver medal in men’s trap at the 2018 Asian Games in Jakarta. Watching his success encouraged her to take the sport seriously.
Her first experience with a gun
Interestingly, Neeru’s first experience with shooting was not at a professional shooting range. As a youngster, she used her family’s double-barrel gun to shoot at tin cans. Her father wanted her to get comfortable with the recoil of the weapon.
Later, Lakshay played an important role in her early development. Neeru initially trained with him and used a gun loaned to her by her cousin. She eventually earned a place at the Madhya Pradesh Academy after winning a trial, marking the beginning of her serious competitive career.
From a young shooter to an international competitor
Neeru first gained wider attention after representing India at the 2022 ISSF World Championship in Osijek, Croatia. Since then, she has become a regular finalist on the international shooting circuit.
Her progress continued with strong performances at Asian and international competitions. She won gold at the 2025 Asian Shooting Championships, further establishing herself as one of India’s promising trap shooters.
2026 became a breakthrough year
The year 2026 has been particularly special for Neeru. In July, she created history at the ISSF Shotgun World Cup in Lonato, Italy, becoming the first Indian woman to win an individual World Cup gold medal in women’s trap.
That victory gave her enormous confidence heading into the Asian Games. She arrived in Japan as one of India’s key medal hopes in shooting.
But her Asian Games journey was not easy.
From a hospital bed to the Asian Games podium
Just days before the competition, Neeru was seriously ill. According to reports, she had been bedridden and had gone nearly three and a half weeks without proper training. During the national camp in New Delhi, she spent much of her time confined to her room and reportedly survived on water for five days because of her illness.
There were doubts over whether she would even be able to compete in Japan.
Yet Neeru made it to the Asian Games and produced a performance that will now be remembered in Indian shooting history.
Historic Asian Games gold
Neeru first helped India win silver in the women’s trap team event, alongside Aashima Ahlawat and Manisha Keer. The Indian trio finished with 328 points.
Later, Neeru returned for the individual competition.
She topped the qualification round with 118 hits, earning her place in the eight-shooter final. In the final, she remained composed despite difficult rainy conditions and finished with 28 hits out of 30, breaking the previous Asian record of 24.
China’s Yunong Sun finished with 26, while Kuwait’s Hajar Abdulmalik took bronze with 21.
The victory made Neeru the first Indian woman to win an individual Asian Games gold in trap shooting. It also ended a long wait for India in the event, with Randhir Singh having won the men’s individual trap gold back in 1978.
A new chapter for Indian shooting
Neeru’s achievement is special not only because of the medal but also because of everything that came before it. From shooting tin cans with her family’s gun to borrowing her cousin’s gun, earning a place at the academy, representing India internationally, joining the Army and eventually becoming a World Cup champion, her journey has been one of steady progress.
And perhaps the most remarkable part is that she managed to produce the biggest performance of her career after battling illness and entering the competition with very limited preparation.
At just 26, Neeru Dhanda has already created a historic place for herself in Indian shooting. Her Asian Games gold is another major milestone in a journey that began with a young girl simply learning to handle a gun and shoot at tin cans.
