Neeru Dhanda Biography: Neeru Dhanda is an Indian sport shooter who made history at the 2026 Asian Games by winning gold in the women’s individual trap shooting event. She also won gold in the mixed team event and silver in the women’s team event, finishing the Games with three medals.
Born on 25 May 2000 in Haryana’s Jind district, Neeru has built her career through years of training, dedication and family support. She began shooting after being inspired by her cousin, Lakshay Sheoran, who won a silver medal at the 2018 Asian Games.
At the beginning of her journey, she practised with a gun available through her family before moving to a professional training environment.
Neeru’s success extends beyond the Asian Games. In 2025, she won two gold medals at the Asian Shooting Championships. In 2026, she became the first Indian woman to win an individual gold medal in women’s trap at the ISSF Shotgun World Cup in Lonato, Italy.
Alongside her sporting career, Neeru serves in the Indian Army as a Naib Subedar in the Corps of Military Police. Her journey has made her a notable name in Indian shotgun shooting.
Personal Overview
| Detail | Information |
|---|
| Full Name | Neeru Dhanda |
| Date of Birth | 25 May 2000 |
| Age | 26 years (as of October 2026) |
| Birthplace | Sangatpura, Jind district, Haryana, India |
| Nationality | Indian |
| Profession | Sport Shooter |
| Sport | Shooting |
| Specialisation | Trap Shooting |
| Coach | Peter Wilson (foreign coach) |
| Military Rank | Naib Subedar |
| Organisation | Indian Army, Corps of Military Police |
| Known For | Historic individual trap gold at the 2026 Asian Games |
Early Life and Family Background
Neeru Dhanda Biography: Neeru Dhanda was born on 25 May 2000 in Sangatpura village in Haryana’s Jind district. Her journey into shooting began after she saw her maternal cousin, Lakshay Sheoran, achieve success in the sport.
In 2018, Lakshay won a silver medal in the men’s trap event at the Asian Games. His achievement inspired Neeru to explore shooting as a possible career.
However, professional shooting is an expensive sport. Athletes need access to a suitable gun, ammunition, coaching and shooting ranges. Neeru did not begin her journey with all these facilities readily available.
According to media reports, she initially practised using a gun available through her family and received help from her relatives. This early support helped her take her first steps towards competitive shooting.
Her journey shows how encouragement from family members and access to proper training can help young athletes develop their abilities.
How Neeru Dhanda Started Shooting
Neeru Dhanda Biography: Neeru began taking shooting seriously in 2019. In the early stages, she practised with limited equipment and gradually worked towards entering the professional training system.
She later moved to Bhopal, Madhya Pradesh, to pursue better training opportunities. After clearing the selection trials, she joined the Madhya Pradesh State Shooting Academy.
The academy provided a more structured environment where she could practise regularly, receive technical guidance and prepare for competitions.
Her progress was gradual. She had to improve her accuracy, timing, concentration and ability to respond quickly to moving targets. These skills are especially important in trap shooting, where even a small mistake can affect an athlete’s final score.
Neeru continued working towards her goal and eventually progressed from domestic competitions to international events.
Neeru Dhanda’s Early Shooting Career
Neeru Dhanda Biography: Neeru competed at the 2022 ISSF World Championships in Osijek, Croatia, in the women’s trap event. Although she did not finish among the medal winners, the competition gave her valuable experience against international athletes.
She continued competing in domestic tournaments and selection trials, working to improve her performance.
In 2025, she won the women’s trap event at the 38th National Games. The victory was an important milestone in her domestic career and strengthened her position among India’s competitive trap shooters.
Her performances in national competitions helped her move towards greater success at international events.
Asian Shooting Championships 2025: Two Gold Medals
Neeru had a breakthrough year in 2025 at the Asian Shooting Championships in Shymkent, Kazakhstan.
She won gold in the women’s individual trap event and also helped India win gold in the women’s team event.
Winning two gold medals at the continental championship was an important achievement. It demonstrated her ability to compete against experienced shooters from across Asia and prepared her for further challenges on the international stage.
These victories also set the foundation for her successful 2026 season.
ISSF World Cup 2026: Historic Gold in Italy
Neeru reached another major milestone at the ISSF Shotgun World Cup in Lonato del Garda, Italy, in July 2026.
In the women’s trap qualification round, she scored 121 out of 125 targets, setting a national record. She then delivered a strong performance in the final, hitting 27 out of 30 targets to win gold.
With this victory, Neeru became the first Indian woman to win an individual gold medal in women’s trap at an ISSF World Cup.
The achievement was significant for Indian shotgun shooting and established Neeru as an international gold medallist in the event.
Earlier in 2026, she had also won bronze in the mixed team trap event at the ISSF Shotgun World Cup in Almaty, Kazakhstan, alongside Vivaan Kapoor.
Her World Cup success gave her valuable experience ahead of the 2026 Asian Games.
Asian Games 2026: Neeru Dhanda Creates History
The 2026 Asian Games in Aichi-Nagoya, Japan, became the biggest milestone of Neeru’s career. She won three medals in trap shooting: two gold medals and one silver.
1. Gold in Women’s Individual Trap
Neeru’s historic victory came in the women’s individual trap final on 29 September 2026.
She hit 28 out of 30 targets in the final to win the gold medal. China’s Sun Yunong scored 26 targets and finished with silver.
Neeru’s score of 28 set a new Asian Games record in the event.
Her victory made her the first Indian woman to win an individual gold medal in trap shooting at the Asian Games. She also became the first Indian shooter, regardless of gender, to win individual Asian Games gold in trap since Randhir Singh’s victory in 1978.
The win was a major moment for Indian shooting and added a new chapter to the country’s history in the sport.
2. Silver in the Women’s Team Event
Neeru also competed in the women’s trap team event with Aashima Ahlawat and Manisha Keer.
The Indian trio finished second behind China to win the silver medal. India recorded a combined score of 328 points, while China won gold with 346 points.
The team’s performance added another medal to Neeru’s Asian Games campaign.
3. Gold in the Mixed Team Event
Neeru’s success continued in the trap mixed team event, where she partnered with Kynan Chenai.
The Indian pair scored 34 points in the final to win gold. Qatar finished second with 32 points, while China took bronze.
The Indian pair’s performance also set a new Asian Games record in the event.
With two gold medals and one silver, Neeru finished the competition as one of India’s notable performers in shooting.
Neeru Dhanda’s Military Career
Neeru Dhanda is also a serving member of the Indian Army. She holds the rank of Naib Subedar in the Corps of Military Police.
She trains at the Army Marksmanship Unit in Mhow, Madhya Pradesh, where she has access to specialised training facilities.
Her sporting career and military service are closely connected through the discipline, commitment and regular training required in both fields.
Neeru has trained under Peter Wilson, the British trap shooter who won Olympic gold at the 2012 London Olympics. Wilson has worked as a foreign coach for India’s shotgun shooting programme.
In an interview following Neeru’s Asian Games victory, Wilson highlighted the importance of hard work, perseverance and dedication in achieving success at the highest level.
Neeru Dhanda’s Shooting Style and Training
Trap shooting is a shotgun discipline in which athletes aim at clay targets launched into the air. The targets move away from the shooter at different angles, requiring quick reactions, sharp focus and precise timing.
Athletes must remain calm and consistent throughout the competition. They also need to make quick decisions because the targets are visible only briefly.
Neeru’s performance at the 2026 Asian Games demonstrated her ability to deliver under pressure. Hitting 28 out of 30 targets in the individual final was particularly significant because it established a new Asian Games record.
Her achievements reflect years of practice and the importance of technical coaching, physical preparation and concentration.
Challenges in Neeru Dhanda’s Journey
Neeru’s journey was not without challenges. At the beginning of her career, she had limited access to shooting equipment and depended on family support to practise. Moving to Bhopal and entering a structured training programme helped her develop her skills further.
She also faced a health setback shortly before the 2026 Asian Games. According to media reports, she was hospitalised around ten days before the competition and missed several weeks of training.
Despite the setback, she travelled to Japan and competed at the Games, where she won two gold medals and one silver.
Her performance was a significant achievement given the disruption to her preparation.
Neeru Dhanda’s Major Achievements
| Year | Competition | Achievement |
|---|---|---|
| 2022 | ISSF World Championships, Osijek | Competed in women’s trap |
| 2025 | 38th National Games | Gold in women’s trap |
| 2025 | Asian Shooting Championships, Shymkent | Gold in individual women’s trap |
| 2025 | Asian Shooting Championships, Shymkent | Gold in women’s team trap |
| 2026 | ISSF Shotgun World Cup, Almaty | Bronze in mixed team trap |
| 2026 | ISSF Shotgun World Cup, Lonato | Gold in individual women’s trap |
| 2026 | Asian Games | Gold in individual women’s trap |
| 2026 | Asian Games | Gold in trap mixed team |
| 2026 | Asian Games | Silver in women’s trap team |
Lesser-Known Facts About Neeru Dhanda
Neeru was born in Sangatpura village in Haryana’s Jind district.
Her maternal cousin, Lakshay Sheoran, inspired her to take up shooting after winning silver at the 2018 Asian Games.
She began her professional shooting journey in 2019.
She moved to Bhopal to pursue training at the Madhya Pradesh State Shooting Academy.
She serves as a Naib Subedar in the Indian Army’s Corps of Military Police.
She trains at the Army Marksmanship Unit in Mhow.
In 2026, she became the first Indian woman to win an individual women’s trap gold at the ISSF World Cup.
At the 2026 Asian Games, she won two gold medals and one silver.
Her individual gold-winning score of 28 out of 30 set a new Asian Games record.
Disclaimer: This article has been prepared using publicly available information, including official sports records and media reports. Every effort has been made to ensure accuracy. Some details may be updated as new information becomes available. Readers are advised to consult official sports and institutional sources for the latest information. This article is intended for informational purposes and does not seek to misrepresent any individual.
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