"I had to believe I am a champion": Neeru Dhanda eyes Asian Games, World Championship after historic ISSF World Cup gold
By Jagdish Yadav, Lonato July 13
Fresh from becoming the first Indian woman to win an individual gold medal in the women's trap event at an ISSF World Cup, Neeru Dhanda says a fearless mindset and unwavering self-belief helped her script history in Lonato, Italy, as she now shifts her focus towards the Asian Games, World Championship and ultimately the Los Angeles 2028 Olympics.
The 26-year-old shotgun shooter produced a composed display in the final to finish with 27 hits out of 30, edging former world champion and Olympian Carole Cormenier of France after the two were locked at 25-all heading into the final two shots. Earlier, Dhanda had topped qualification with a national record score of 121 out of 125 before completing the biggest victory of her career.
Reflecting on the achievement, Dhanda described the medal as a landmark moment not just for herself but for Indian shotgun shooting.
"The day felt like a very special day for the entire Indian shooting team and for India, especially for me, my family, the Indian Army, Bhopal Shooting Academy, the NRAI (National Rifle Association of India), and SAI (Sports Authority of India). It was a huge day for everyone," she told ANI.
The Indian Army's Naib Subedar, who is set to be promoted to Subedar, also credited her coaches, support staff and institutions for helping her reach the top.
"I want to thank everyone for supporting me so much. We have a foreign coach, and it's because of him that we reached this stage and were able to experience this feeling. Everyone's love, prayers, and support are with us," she added.
Dhanda admitted that missing out on finals in her previous three World Cup appearances made the breakthrough even sweeter.
"I felt from the start that I had to do this; I had missed out on the finals the last three times. Breaking this barrier has helped develop great confidence. The feeling is next-level. I thank God for this day," she said.
Dhanda trains under India's foreign shotgun coach and London 2012 Olympic gold medalist Peter Wilson, while Indian Olympian Mansher Singh has served as her personal coach for the past five years in addition to his role as the NRAI's High-Performance Manager for shotgun.
Asked about handling pressure in the final, Dhanda revealed that confidence, rather than nerves, defined her approach.
"There's no pressure. Those standing there might be champions, but on that day, if I'm standing with them, I'm also a champion. My mindset was: I am a champion; if I am standing here, I am a champion," she said.
"When they announced my name, I gave my mind a signal of energy and victory, telling myself I had won. That was the strategy. My foreign coach, Peter and personal coach, Mansher, have made me so technically strong that there were no issues there. I just had to give myself a mental 'click' and execute it," she added.
She further added that every target was treated as a fresh opportunity.
"I kept resetting myself for every new shot, seeing each as a challenge and an opportunity. Thinking of it as a blessing from God, I had to give my 200%," Dhanda said.
Sending a message to aspiring athletes, Dhanda said, "Wherever you are, whether winning or losing, in any condition or profession, don't give up. You have to fight everywhere, and you must fight strongly."
Dhanda's journey to the top has been equally inspiring. Born into a middle-class family, with her father a farmer and mother a homemaker, her interest in shooting began after watching her maternal cousin Lakshay Sheoran win a silver medal at the 2018 Asian Games. Her family had moved from Haryana's Jind to Madhya Pradesh's Shivpuri more than a decade ago.
She credited her family, the Madhya Pradesh State Shooting Academy, the Indian Army, the Sports Authority of India under the Target Olympic Podium Scheme (TOPS), Olympic Gold Quest (OGQ), and NRAI for supporting her development.
Looking ahead, Dhanda has already set her sights on bigger prizes.
"The Asian Games are next. I'm participating in three events -- team, individual, and mixed team. After that, in November, is the World Championship. My focus is on winning a quota and a gold medal there. Beyond that, the focus is on the Los Angeles 2028 Olympics; I've set small steps for myself to work towards that," she said.
The ISSF World Championship will be held in Doha, Qatar, from November 1 to 14, while the shotgun competitions at the Asian Games will take place in September in Japan's Aichi-Nagoya.
— ANI
Reader Comments
Great performance but honestly, India's shotgun shooting needs more consistent results. One gold doesn't change the fact we're still behind countries like Italy and France. Hope she continues this form and inspires others. The foreign coach (Peter Wilson) seems to be making a difference though.
So proud of Neeru! From a farmer's daughter in MP to creating history in Lonato – what a journey. The way she handled pressure against an Olympic medalist shows her mental strength. India's women shooters are truly making waves. Jai Hind! 🇮🇳
Impressive composure for a 26-year-old. The "reset on every shot" approach is something all athletes can learn from. Indian Army has been a breeding ground for such talent. Keen to see how she performs at the World Championship in Doha. Quota for LA28 would be huge.
Good achievement but let's be realistic – ISSF World Cup golds are stepping stones, not the final goal. Olympics is where it matters. Remember how our shooters flopped at Tokyo 2020? Hope Neeru stays grounded and the system nurtures her properly for LA28. No point celebrating too early.
"You have to fight everywhere, and you must fight strongly" – that quote is pure gold. Neeru's story of missing finals three times and then coming back stronger is a lesson in resilience. Also nice to see proper credit given to coaches and support staff. Wishing her all the best for Asian Games! 💪
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