Asian Games 2026 | Neeru doffs her hat to cousin Lakshya, armed forces after gold win
Indian shooter Neeru Dhanda won the gold medal in the women's trap event at the 2026 Asian Games. She credited her success to the inspiration provided by her cousin Lakshya Sheoran and the support of the MP Shooting Academy.
Why it matters
This victory marks a significant milestone for Indian women in trap shooting, highlighting the impact of state-sponsored sports academies.
Eight years ago, Lakshya Sheoran won an Asian Games silver in trap at Palembang. His grand welcome and felicitations on return were at par with what happened to successful sportspersons in Haryana but for one girl, it was the start of a dream.
Lakshya’s cousin Neeru Dhanda, a year younger, was inspired to follow in his footsteps. On Tuesday, she went one better in Aich i, changing the colour of the medal and becoming India’s first woman and only the second gold medalist in trap. And didn’t forget the beginning.
“I shifted to the MP Shooting Academy in Bhopal in 2019, only months after I had started shooting. Lakshya’s parents encouraged me a lot, I started with his father’s old gun only,” she admitted.
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