India Wins First-Ever Women's Trap Shooting Gold Medal

Neeru Dhanda stood on the podium in Lonato, Italy, wearing India's first-ever gold medal in women's trap shooting at the ISSF World Cup. The 26-year-old from Jind district didn't just win—she dominated.

Neeru hit 27 out of 30 targets in the final round, missing only three shots in a field of eight elite shooters. She beat France's former world champion Carole Cormenier, who took silver with 25 hits, and Italy's Erica Sessa, who claimed bronze.

The victory means even more because it ended India's 16-year wait for an individual shooting medal at the World Cup stage. The last Indian to stand on that podium was Seema Tomar, who won silver back in 2010.

Neeru's path to gold started with flawless qualifying rounds. She topped the field with 121 out of 125, including a perfect 75 out of 75 in her opening three rounds.

The reigning Asian champion and national titleholder trains under Peter Wilson, a London Olympics gold medalist who now coaches India's shooting team. Her previous biggest achievement was winning the Asian Championships gold last year, but this World Cup victory launches her into a new stratosphere.

The Ripple Effect

Neeru's gold sends a powerful message to young athletes across India, especially girls from rural areas like Jind. Her success shows that world-class training and dedication can transform talented shooters into history-makers.

The timing couldn't be better, coming just months before the Asian Games in September. India's shooting program has been building momentum, and Neeru's breakthrough proves the investment in coaching and athlete development is paying off.

While her compatriot Manisha Keer narrowly missed the final by finishing 10th, India now has a deeper bench of competitive shooters ready to challenge for medals. The fierce qualifying round saw multiple shoot-offs just to determine the final eight positions, showing how competitive the sport has become.

Neeru's victory also marks India's first individual shotgun gold of the 2026 World Cup season, adding to the country's growing reputation in shooting sports on the global stage.

From perfect rounds to handling pressure in the final, Neeru showed the composure of a champion ready for even bigger stages ahead.