Neeru Dhanda smashed the Asian Games trap final with a 28‑shot tally, breaking the old record of 24 and taking India’s first individual gold for women.
The 25‑year‑old didn’t just win; she set a new benchmark, eclipsing the previous mark by four targets and cementing her place in the record books. Her world‑cup triumph in Italy earlier this year added to the momentum, making her the first Indian woman to secure a World Cup and Asian Games gold in the same season.
After a viral fever forced her into a hospital bed in Delhi, Dhanda’s focus never wavered. She was discharged and jetted to Japan with barely a day’s rest, still humming the mantra that she “must bring a medal to the country.”
Coach Mansher Singh, who has guided her since she was 18, praised her composure: “She has a lot of fire in her belly. If in the final she will go all guns blazing and that’s what she did.” He added that Dhanda’s maturity has grown with every pressure moment.
The back‑to‑back titles elevate Dhanda beyond national acclaim; the next big test is the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics, where she aims to break India’s long drought in shotgun events.
With the Olympic goal crystal clear, Dhanda is now training harder than ever, aiming to bring home a medal that has eluded Indian shooters since 2004.