A Borrowed Gun, a Broken Record, and a Historic Gold: Neeru Dhanda’s Unstoppable Asian Games Journey

Xtratime Webdesk: Neeru Dhanda’s Asian Games journey on Tuesday began with a silver medal, but by the end of the day, she had made history with a gold-medal finish. Earlier in the day, Dhanda joined Manisha Keer and Aashima Ahlawat to win silver in the women’s team trap event. Hours later, she returned to the range for the individual final and produced the performance of her life.

Dhanda hit 28 of 30 targets to win gold and break the previous Asian record of 24. In the process, she became the first Indian woman to win an Asian Games gold medal in individual trap shooting. The medal also added another landmark to a rapid rise that has gathered pace over the past two years.

In 2025, Dhanda won gold in women’s trap at the Asian Shooting Championships in Shymkent, becoming the first Indian woman to claim the title in the event. Then, in July 2026, she went a step further at the ISSF World Cup in Lonato, winning India’s first-ever women’s trap World Cup gold. 

But the roots of her journey go back much further. Neeru Dhanda was inspired to take up shooting after watching her cousin Lakshay Sheoran win trap silver at the 2018 Asian Games. Sheoran also lent her his gun when Dhanda was starting her journey. Later, she earned a place at the Madhya Pradesh State Shooting Academy, giving her access to structured training and the equipment needed to pursue the sport seriously. 

Now, her name sits alongside a much older chapter of Indian trap shooting. Randhir Singh won India’s first Asian Games shooting gold in men’s trap at Bangkok 1978. Forty-eight years later, Neeru Dhanda has added a new landmark to that legacy, becoming the first Indian woman to stand atop the Asian Games podium in individual trap. From a borrowed gun to a record-breaking gold, Neeru Dhanda’s rise has reached a historic high.