Asian Games 2026: Neeru Dhanda, Kynan Chenai Win India’s First Mixed Trap Gold
Neeru Dhanda and Kynan Chenai won India’s first-ever Asian Games gold in mixed team trap shooting in Aichi-Nagoya on Wednesday, setting a new Games record along the way.
The Indian pair finished with 34, ahead of silver medallists Qatar on 32 and bronze winners China on 23. According to ANI, their score surpassed the previous Games record of 30.
The victory delivered India’s ninth gold of the Games and third of the day, taking the country’s tally to 56 medals: nine golds, 21 silvers and 26 bronzes.
It also brought the Indian shooting contingent’s haul to 15 medals, comprising three golds, eight silvers and four bronzes.
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Neeru Adds a Second Historic Gold
For Neeru, the mixed team triumph followed a landmark individual victory on Tuesday, when she became the first Indian woman to win an Asian Games gold in trap shooting.
Competing in rainy conditions, she finished the eight-shooter final with a winning score of 26. China’s Sun Yunong and Kuwait’s Hajar Abdulmalik scored 21 each, while Qatar’s Ray Bassil finished fourth with 16.
The mixed team gold gave Neeru a third medal on her Asian Games debut, following her individual title and a silver in the women’s trap team event.
Team Silver Completes Three-Medal Haul
Neeru had joined Aashima Ahlawat and Manisha Keer to win women’s trap team silver on Tuesday.
India finished with 328 points behind China, who took gold with 346. Kuwait claimed bronze with 325.
Neeru was India’s highest scorer in the team competition, hitting 118 out of 125. Her partnership with Chenai on Wednesday added another title to an already successful campaign.
Archers Add Gold, Priya Takes Bronze
India also struck gold in women’s compound team archery on Wednesday, with Jyothi Surekha Vennam, Chikitha Taniparthi and Prithika Pradeep defeating China 238-234 in the final.
The trio’s victory contributed to a day of multiple gold medals for India, before Neeru and Chenai added their record-setting shooting triumph.
In boxing, Commonwealth Games 2026 gold medallist Priya Ghanghas finished with bronze after losing to China’s Yang Chengyu in the women’s 60kg semifinal.
With inputs from ANI