Aichi-Nagoya, Japan September 30, 2026: Neeru Dhanda added another golden chapter to her breakthrough Asian Games campaign as she teamed up with Kynan Chenai to win the mixed team trap gold for India on Wednesday.
The Indian pair produced a remarkable comeback after qualifying fourth for the four-team medal round, eventually defeating top-seeded Qatar 34-32 in the gold-medal contest. Their winning score also set a new Asian Games record. India had entered the medal round with 136 hits, behind China, Qatar and Iran. But once the knockout stages began, Dhanda and Chenai showed remarkable composure. Iran were eliminated first, followed by China, leaving India and Qatar to battle for gold.
The Indian duo held their nerve in the decisive contest and pulled away when it mattered most to secure a historic victory.
For Dhanda, the gold completes a stunning treble of medals at Aichi-Nagoya. She had already won the women’s individual trap gold — becoming the first Indian woman to win an individual Asian Games gold in trap — and a team silver alongside Aashima Ahlawat and Manisha Keer.
Her mixed team triumph means Dhanda leaves the Games with medals across individual, team and mixed team trap, underlining an extraordinary few days for the Haryana shooter.
Chenai, meanwhile, adds another Asian Games medal to his collection. He had previously won men’s team trap gold and individual trap bronze at the 2022 Asian Games.
The victory also gives India its first Asian Games mixed team trap gold, with the Indian pair’s 34 hits surpassing the previous Games mark. Qatar’s Mohammed Al-Rumaihi and Ray Bassil finished with 32, while China took bronze with 23.
For Indian shooting, it was another significant milestone in what has been a productive Aichi-Nagoya campaign — and for Dhanda, a golden finish to a remarkable 48 hours.
