India's Neeru Dhanda scripts history by winning gold at the ISSF World Cup in trap shooting

Neeru Dhanda's historic gold win in trap shooting.

NeNeeru Dhanda, hailing from Haryana, created history by becoming the first Indian woman trap shooter to win gold at the ISSF World Cup held in Lonato, Italy. As a 9th Subedar in the Indian Army, she showed exceptional skill and consistency, leading through the final 30-target contest to finish with a commanding score of 27. Her victory marks a significant milestone in Indian shooting sports and underscores her rising status as a top contender internationally.

Neeru's journey to this achievement includes earlier successes such as winning gold at the Asian Championships in 2025. At 26, she set a new national record during the qualification round of this World Cup event by scoring 121, securing her place in the final eight. Trained rigorously at the Madhya Pradesh State Shooting Academy in Bhopal, she possesses a blend of disciplined military training and competitive shooting excellence.

Her background in the Indian Army plays a crucial role in her career. Neeru Dhanda joined the corps of military police after the rank and file were opened to women. She also trained at the Army Marksmanship Unit (AMU) located at the infantry school in Mao, which specializes in preparing military personnel, para athletes, and civilians for international shooting competitions under the Indian Army's Mission Olympics program. This structured training environment has been pivotal in her success.