PM Modi hails Keer, Dhanda, and Ahlawat for Asian Games medals
PM Modi congratulates Manisha Keer, Neeru Dhanda, and Aashima Ahlawat for their historic silver and gold achievements in Women's Trap at the Asian Games.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi has extended his heartfelt congratulations to Manisha Keer, Neeru Dhanda, and Aashima Ahlawat for their stellar performance in the Women’s Trap Team event at the Asian Games. The trio secured a silver medal, marking a significant moment for Indian shooting sports on the continental stage.
Historic Silver for the Indian Trio
The Indian team showcased incredible precision and coordination to clinch the silver medal in the Women's Trap Team event. Competing against top international talent, the trio of Manisha Keer, Neeru Dhanda, and Aashima Ahlawat finished with a combined score of 328.
The competition was intense, with China taking home the gold medal with a score of 346, while Kuwait secured the bronze with 325. Among the Indian squad, Neeru Dhanda emerged as the standout performer, contributing a massive 118 out of 125 points to the team's total.
In a statement released via the PMO, the Prime Minister remarked, "Congratulations to Manisha Keer, Neeru and Aashima Ahlawat on winning the Silver medal in the Women’s Trap Team event at the Asian Games. It was a commendable display of precision, focus and teamwork. May the entire team continue to excel and bring more laurels to India."
Neeru Dhanda Makes History with Individual Gold
Beyond the team success, the Prime Minister also celebrated a historic milestone achieved by Neeru Dhanda. Dhanda has become the first Indian woman to win an individual Trap Gold at the Asian Games, a feat that has brought immense pride to the nation.
Describing her achievement as a historic moment, PM Modi stated, "Neeru Dhanda has given India a historic moment to celebrate! Congratulations to her on becoming the first Indian woman to win an individual Gold in Trap at the Asian Games. Her exceptional accuracy and composure have brought immense pride to the nation. This achievement will encourage many more young sportspersons to take up shooting and aim for the highest honours."
A Dominant Run to the Top
Dhanda's journey to the gold at the Asian Games 2026 was nothing short of dominant. She secured India's fifth gold medal of the Aichi-Nagoya Games by topping both the qualification rounds and the final.
The final was a masterclass in composure. Dhanda started with a perfect sequence, hitting all five targets in her opening series. Despite a single miss in the second series, she showed remarkable mental strength to recover immediately. After a perfect third round, she surged ahead, reaching 19 hits out of 20 shots after four series.
In the decisive final stage, Dhanda maintained her nerve under pressure to outpace her competitors, Sun and Hajar, to seal the gold medal and cement her place in sporting history.