Neeru Dhanda overcomes severe illness to win historic trap gold at Asian Games

Indian trap shooter Neeru Dhanda won an individual gold medal at the Asian Games in Nagoya, hitting 28 of 30 targets in the final to set a new tournament record. The 26-year-old finished ahead of China's Sun Yunong, who won silver with 26 hits. This marks the first time an Indian woman has won an individual trap gold at the Asian Games, and the first time any Indian shooter has won the event since 1978.

The Recovery

Dhanda achieved the win despite severe health issues that left her hospitalized just ten days before the event. She spent three days in a hospital bed in New Delhi during the national camp and did not eat for five days, surviving only on water. She went three-and-a-half weeks without training and barely had any preparation time before arriving in Japan. Her coach, Mansher Singh, and national coach Peter Wilson both supported her recovery, with Singh calling her regularly to keep her motivated.

The Journey

Dhanda started the sport after watching her cousin Lakshya Sheoran win a silver medal at the 2018 Asian Games. She later moved to Bhopal to train at the Madhya Pradesh State Shooting Academy. Her recent achievements include winning gold at the Asian Championship last year and becoming the first Indian woman to win an individual trap gold at an ISSF World Cup in July.

Context

Trap shooting is a shotgun discipline where competitors shoot at moving clay targets launched from a house in front of them. The sport demands intense mental focus, precise timing, and consistency across multiple rounds. Success at major multi-sport events like the Asian Games requires years of dedicated technical training and physical conditioning.