Indian shooter Neeru Dhanda clinched her first international gold medal in the women’s trap event at the 16th Asian Shooting Championships held in Shymkent, Kazakhstan. She scored a stellar 43 in the final to outshine competitors, including Qatar’s Ray Bassil. Alongside Neeru’s triumph, Aashima Ahlawat won bronze in the same event, and Bhowneesh Mendiratta earned silver in the men’s trap, underscoring India’s deep pool of shooting talent.

The Indian junior women’s team swept medals in the 25m pistol junior event, while senior pistol shooters Manu Bhaker and Esha Singh narrowly missed out on podium finishes. India topped the team events by securing gold in the women’s trap category and maintained a strong overall medal tally, reinforcing the nation’s stature in continental shooting sports.

Neeru Dhanda’s Historic Gold and Team Success

Neeru Dhanda, 25, became the first Indian woman to win gold in the trap event at the Asian Championships, delivering a high-scoring final with 43 hits. Despite a brief power outage halting proceedings, she maintained exceptional focus and composure, advancing through a tense shoot-off to emerge victorious ahead of Qatar’s Ray Bassil.

Neeru’s journey escalated rapidly, having reached her first ISSF World Cup final earlier this year and impressively finishing fourth at the Shotgun World Cup in Lonato, Italy, in July. Hailing from Madhya Pradesh and inspired by cousin Lakshay Sheoran, also a prominent trap shooter, Neeru demonstrated great composure and resilience. Her contributions were pivotal in India’s triumphant women’s trap team gold, alongside Aashima Ahlawat and Preeti Rajak, who together outpaced China and Kuwait.

Outstanding Performances by Aashima Ahlawat, Bhowneesh Mendiratta and Juniors

Aashima Ahlawat secured bronze with a score of 29 in the women’s trap final, while Bhowneesh Mendiratta clinched silver in the fiercely competitive men’s trap final, falling just short of China’s Ying Qi with a score of 45. Indian juniors were impressive in the women’s 25m pistol event, with Payal Khatri taking gold, Naamya Kapoor silver, and Tejaswani bronze, a clean sweep exemplifying the strength of India’s next generation shooters.

The junior team also secured silver in team 25m pistol event, edging past hosts Kazakhstan. Although senior shooters Manu Bhaker, a noted Olympic medallist, and Esha Singh missed podium finishes in the 25m pistol event, their performances laid promising groundwork for future events.

India’s Rise in Asian Shooting and Team Spirit

India’s overall shooting success at the championship was marked by stellar individual brilliance intertwined with cohesive team efforts. The Indian contingent, largest among 28 countries, showcased depth across disciplines and age groups, signaling a promising future on international stages.

Officials, including high-performance manager Mansher Singh, lauded the athletes’ mental toughness, dedication and ability to adapt to challenges such as unexpected interruptions and competition pressure. This blend of individual resilience and team camaraderie formed the backbone of India’s exemplary showing, inspiring confidence ahead of upcoming competitions.

The Logical Indian’s Perspective

The shooting triumphs at the Asian Championships illustrate how perseverance, discipline, and peaceful competition converge to uplift a nation’s sporting spirit. The Logical Indian honours these dedicated athletes who personify patience and resilience, fostering a culture of harmony and healthy rivalry.

Their achievements kindle hope and set role models for youth aspiring to excel through peaceful endeavour and mutual respect.