Indian trap shooter Neeru Dhanda completed a remarkable medal treble at the Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games 2026 after teaming up with Kynan Chenai to win gold in the mixed team trap event on Wednesday. The Indian pair defeated top-seeded Qatar 34-32 in the gold-medal contest, while China took bronze with 23 points.The mixed team gold came a day after Neeru created history by becoming the first Indian woman to win an individual Asian Games gold medal in trap shooting. She had also won silver in the women's trap team event with Aashima Ahlawat and Manisha Keer, taking her total medal count at the Games to three.What happened in the mixed team trap final?Neeru Dhanda and Kynan Chenai produced a strong recovery after a difficult start in the four-team final. India initially managed only six hits from their opening 10 shots, putting pressure on the pair early in the competition. They then improved their shooting and finished with 34 points to secure the gold medal.The Indian score also established a new Asian Games record for the mixed team trap event. Qatar, represented by Mohammed Al-Rumaihi and Ray Bassil, finished with 32 points for silver, while China's Qi Ying and Sun Yunong scored 23 points to take bronze. Iran finished fourth with 12 points.Why is Neeru Dhanda's performance significant?Neeru's three-medal haul has made her one of India's notable performers at the Asian Games 2026. Her first medal at the Games came in the women's trap team event, where India finished second. She then won the individual trap gold with an Asian Games record score of 28 in the final.Her individual gold was also historic for Indian shooting. Neeru became the first Indian woman to win an individual Asian Games gold in trap shooting. She had topped qualification with 118 points before producing a score of 28 in the final.The Haryana shooter has also made an impact internationally in 2026. Earlier this year, she became the first Indian woman to win an individual ISSF World Cup gold in women's trap at the Shotgun World Cup in Lonato, Italy.What did NRAI officials say about India's shooters?"National Rifle Association of India (NRAI) president Kalikesh Narayan Singh Deo and secretary general Pawan Kumar Singh praised India's trap shooters following the medal-winning performances in Nagoya. Their comments came after Neeru and Kynan added another gold to India's shooting campaign at the Asian Games."The mixed team victory also continued India's strong performance in shooting at the 2026 Asian Games. The gold was India's third in shooting at the Games, while Neeru's individual gold and team silver had already made her campaign historic.Neeru's mixed-team success with Kynan capped two days of strong performances in trap shooting. Her individual gold, women's team silver and mixed team gold have given her three medals from the competition, including two gold medals.
