Asian Games 2026: Neeru Dhanda Wins Historic Trap Gold, India Bags Team Silver

India continued its strong shooting campaign at the Asian Games 2026 as Neeru Dhanda won gold in the women's individual trap event, after earlier helping India secure silver in the women's trap team competition.

Dhanda, Aashima Ahlawat and Manisha Keer combined for 328 points to finish second in the women's trap team event. China won gold with 346 points, while Kuwait claimed bronze with 325. The competition was held at the Aichi Prefectural General Shooting Gallery in Japan.

Neeru Dhanda wins historic individual trap gold

Dhanda followed the team silver with a landmark individual gold medal. She became the first Indian woman to win an Asian Games gold in the individual women's trap event, according to reports from the ongoing Aichi-Nagoya Games.

The achievement came after Dhanda had finished joint-top in qualification with 118 points out of 125. She then converted that strong qualification performance into gold in the individual final.

India wins silver in women's trap team event

The Indian women's trap team of Neeru Dhanda, Aashima Ahlawat and Manisha Keer finished second with 328 points.

China dominated the team competition with 346 points to take gold, while Kuwait scored 325 points for bronze.

Aashima scored 106 points and Manisha recorded 104 during qualification, while Dhanda contributed 118.

Shapath Bharadwaj reaches men's trap final

India also had representation in the men's individual trap final. Shapath Bharadwaj qualified after finishing joint-seventh with 117 points and subsequently surviving a shoot-off for a place in the final.

India's men's trap team, however, finished sixth in the team competition.

Esha Singh wins second consecutive Asian Games silver

Earlier, Esha Singh won silver in the women's 25m pistol after a dramatic final against China's Xiao Jiaruixuan.

Both shooters finished the regular final on 38 hits before the gold medal was decided through a shoot-off. Xiao prevailed, while Singh took silver. The result marked Singh's second consecutive Asian Games silver in the event after her runner-up finish at Hangzhou 2023.

India’s shooting medal tally reaches 13

The women's trap team silver took India's shooting medal tally to 13 during the Asian Games 2026 campaign.

With Dhanda's individual trap gold and the latest additions across other events, India's overall medal tally has since moved to 48 medals — five gold, 21 silver and 22 bronze — as of September 29.