Neeru Dhanda Becomes First Indian Woman to Win Asian Games Trap Gold
Ten days before making history in Nagoya, Neeru Dhanda was in a hospital bed, unsure whether she would even be able to compete. The 26-year-old trap shooter had been battling an infection during the national camp in Delhi. For nearly three-and-a-half weeks, she could not train, spending much of her time confined to her room. For five days, she barely ate, surviving on water.Her participation at the Asian Games itself was uncertain. But just days later, Dhanda stood on the top step of the podium—with an Asian Games record beside her name.28 Targets. One Historic Gold.Competing in the women’s trap final amid rain at the shooting range in rural Toyota, Dhanda produced a stunning performance. She hit 28 of 30 targets, setting an Asian Games record and finishing ahead of China’s Sun Yunong, who won silver with 26 hits.The victory made Dhanda the first Indian woman to win an individual Asian Games gold in trap shooting. It also ended a much longer wait for Indian shooting. The last Indian to win an individual Asian Games trap gold was Randhir Singh in 1978.For more than four decades, the event’s top prize had remained out of India’s reach. Dhanda changed that in spectacular fashion.Barely Any Training, Yet She DeliveredWhat makes the achievement even more remarkable is the preparation, or lack of it, behind the performance. After arriving in Japan, Dhanda had managed to shoot for only two days before the competition.Her coach, Arjuna Award winner Mansher Singh, kept in touch throughout her illness and encouraged her to stay confident. Trap coach Peter Wilson was also struck by the speed of her recovery. Despite the disrupted preparation, Dhanda topped the qualification round and carried that momentum into the final.A Journey That Began With InspirationDhanda’s journey into shooting began in Jind, Haryana, after she watched her cousin Lakshya Sheoran win a trap silver at the 2018 Asian Games. Sheoran’s family introduced her to the sport, and around five years ago, Dhanda moved to Bhopal to train at the Madhya Pradesh State Shooting Academy.The decision opened the door to better facilities, equipment and structured coaching. Her progress since then has been impressive. She won Asian Championship gold last year and became the first Indian woman to win an individual trap gold at an ISSF World Cup in July. Yet her biggest challenge arrived just before the Asian Games. She arrived in Nagoya after illness had disrupted almost a month of preparation. And then, when the moment arrived, Neeru Dhanda did what champions dream of doing—she turned an uncertain journey into a historic gold medal.
