Neeru Dhanda, the trap shooter from Haryana, is carrying India’s Tricolour at the Asian Games 2026 closing ceremony in Nagoya after winning two gold medals and one silver.
Her campaign included India’s first women’s individual Asian Games gold in trap and another gold with Kynan Chenai in mixed trap. India finished the Games with 85 medals, 21 gold, 27 silver and 37 bronze, securing fourth place overall.
Key Highlights
- Neeru Dhanda won two gold medals and one silver at Aichi-Nagoya 2026.
- She hit 28 of 30 targets in the women’s trap final, setting an Asian record.
- Dhanda and Kynan Chenai won mixed trap gold with an Asian-record score of 34.
- She is a Naib Subedar in the Indian Army’s Corps of Military Police.
- The closing ceremony is being held at Paloma Mizuho Stadium in Nagoya on October 4.
Who Is Neeru Dhanda and Why Is She Carrying India’s Flag?
Dhanda is a 26-year-old trap shooter from Sangatpura village in Haryana’s Jind district. News On AIR’s October 4 closing-ceremony update confirmed her as India’s women’s flag-bearer following a three-medal campaign in Japan.
Her individual trap victory was the breakthrough. Shooting in rain, she hit 28 of 30 targets in the final, beating China’s Sun Yunong and rewriting the Asian record. The result also ended India’s 48-year wait for another individual trap gold at the Asian Games after Randhir Singh’s 1978 victory.
The Prime Minister’s Office congratulated her after the win, praising her accuracy and composure. The message can be seen in PMO India’s official X post and was also published by the Press Information Bureau.
Profile Snapshot: Haryana-born trap shooter | Indian Army Naib Subedar | Asian champion | World Cup gold medallist.
From Kabaddi and a Borrowed Gun to Asian Champion
Dhanda did not begin in shooting. She played kabaddi before watching her cousin Lakshay Sheoran win men’s trap silver at the 2018 Asian Games. His medal prompted her to try the sport.
Her family could not immediately buy expensive shooting equipment. Lakshay and his father helped her start, and she trained with her cousin’s gun before entering formal coaching. The Indian Express reported that she began pursuing shooting seriously in 2019.
By 2025, she had won the women’s trap title at the Asian Shooting Championships in Shymkent and helped India take team gold. In 2026, she became the first Indian woman to win individual trap gold at an ISSF World Cup, triumphing in Lonato, Italy.
Career Markers: 2019: shooting begins | 2025: Asian champion | 2026: World Cup winner and Asian Games double gold medallist.
How Neeru Dhanda Won Three Medals at Asian Games 2026
Her run began with silver in the women’s trap team. Dhanda, Aashima Ahlawat and Manisha Keer combined for 328, behind China’s 346 and ahead of Kuwait’s 325. She then moved into the individual final and produced her record-setting 28/30.
Less than a day later, Dhanda and Kynan Chenai faced a difficult mixed trap final. They opened with only six hits from 10 shots and sat at the bottom of the four-team field. Their recovery ended with 34 hits, gold and another Asian record.
The result carried another story. Dhanda had reportedly been hospitalised with illness around 10 days before her individual final, losing valuable training time. She still finished the Games with three medals. The Indian Express detailed her pre-Games hospitalisation.
What the Flag-Bearer Honour Means for India and What Comes Next
Dhanda had already returned to India because of Japan’s firearm regulations when she learned she had been selected for the closing ceremony. She then travelled back to Japan to lead the Indian contingent with the flag.
The honour closes India’s second-best Asian Games medal campaign. The country collected 85 medals and finished fourth, behind China, Japan and South Korea. Dhanda’s own season now includes World Cup, Asian and Asian Games titles, putting her firmly in focus for the next Olympic cycle.
For comparison, India’s record at the previous Hangzhou Asian Games was 106 medals. Nagoya’s 85 is lower overall but remains the country’s second-highest Asiad haul.
FAQs
Why Was Neeru Dhanda Selected as India’s Closing Ceremony Flag-Bearer?
She was chosen after winning three shooting medals at Aichi-Nagoya 2026, including two golds and a silver, making her one of India’s standout performers there.
How Many Medals Did Neeru Dhanda Win at Asian Games 2026?
Dhanda won three medals: women’s individual trap gold, mixed trap team gold with Kynan Chenai, and women’s trap team silver with her Indian teammates there.
What Record Did Neeru Dhanda Set in the Women’s Trap Final?
She hit 28 of 30 targets in the Asian Games women’s trap final, setting a new Asian record while becoming India’s first woman champion in the event.
Where Is Neeru Dhanda From and When Did She Start Shooting?
Dhanda comes from Sangatpura village in Jind, Haryana. A former kabaddi player, she moved seriously into shooting in 2019 after inspiration from cousin Lakshay Sheoran.
What Is Neeru Dhanda’s Next Major Target After the Asian Games?
Her results now shift attention towards the Olympic cycle, where India continues seeking another shotgun medal after Rajyavardhan Rathore’s silver at the Athens 2004 Games.
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