“She’s been very, very ill”: Peter Wilson reveals Neeru Dhanda was hospitalised 10 days before Asian Games trap gold
Coach Peter Wilson reveals Neeru Dhanda was hospitalised just 10 days before her historic Asian Games trap shooting gold medal win.
In a breathtaking display of resilience, Indian shooter Neeru Dhanda has secured a historic gold medal in the women's individual trap at the Asian Games, despite facing a severe health crisis just days before the competition. Indian trap shooting coach Peter Wilson revealed that the shooter had been hospitalised in Delhi for three days only ten days prior to her triumphant campaign in Japan.
A Battle Against Illness and Limited Preparation
The journey to the podium was anything but smooth for the Indian Army Marksmanship Unit shooter. Beyond the sudden illness, Dhanda faced significant logistical and physical hurdles. She arrived in Japan late, accompanied by physiotherapist Ashwini, having had virtually no training during the critical build-up period to the games.
“Well, it's been a long journey. She's been very, very ill. Only 10 days ago, she was in hospital for three days back in Delhi,” Wilson told ANI. The coach noted that the lack of preparation made the situation "really, really tricky," as Dhanda was only able to undergo half a day of training before pre-event sessions began.
Dominance Amidst Rain and Difficult Conditions
Despite the physical setbacks and challenging weather conditions in Aichi-Nagoya, Dhanda displayed immense composure. She topped the individual qualification alongside Qatar's Ray Bassil and maintained her focus through a high-pressure eight-shooter final. Even in rainy conditions, she finished with 28 points, proving her mental toughness.
Wilson, a former world No. 1 and London 2012 Olympic gold medallist, expressed his immense satisfaction with her performance. He pointed out that her score of 28 was even higher than the score required for the men's gold, which was won with 26 points. “She's a real star,” Wilson remarked.
A Historic Milestone for Indian Shooting
This victory marks a landmark moment for Indian shooting, as Dhanda becomes the first Indian woman to win an individual Asian Games gold medal in trap shooting. Her success follows a stellar year for the Naib Subedar, who previously secured an ISSF World Cup gold in Italy and an Asian Championship title.
Dhanda’s success is a testament to a collaborative effort involving her coach Wilson and her personal coach of six years, Indian Olympian Mansher Singh. Her performance also contributed to India's silver medal in the women's trap team event, alongside teammates Aashima Ahlawat and Manisha Keer.