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From Borrowed Gun to Asian Games Gold: Neeru Dhanda's Extraordinary Journey
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News18•29-09-2026, 16:24
From Borrowed Gun to Asian Games Gold: Neeru Dhanda's Extraordinary Journey
- •Neeru Dhanda made history as the first Indian woman to win an individual shotgun gold medal at the Asian Games.
- •The daughter of a farmer, Neeru had only six months of shooting experience before moving to Bhopal in 2019.
- •She began practice with her cousin Lakshay Sheoran's father's gun, using a tin can as a target by a pond.
- •The Madhya Pradesh State Shooting Academy provided free guns and cartridges, enabling her to pursue her dream.
- •Despite battling illness, Neeru won her gold medal, dedicating it to the nation's soldiers and Raja Randhir Singh.
Key Questions Answered
Neeru Dhanda became the first Indian woman to win an individual shotgun gold medal at the Asian Games, setting a new Asian record with 28 points in the women's trap event.
Despite being hospitalized with a serious illness just 10 days before the competition, eating nothing for five days, and missing the entire training camp, she maintained daily phone consultations with her coach Mansher Singh, who helped her stay focused.
Neeru was inspired by her cousin Lakshay Sheoran, who won a silver medal at the 2018 Jakarta Asian Games, prompting her to try her hand at the sport using his father's gun.
