India added another shooting medal to its Asian Games 2026 campaign as Neeru Dhanda, Aashima Ahlawat and Manisha Keer received silver in the women’s trap team event in Aichi-Nagoya, Japan, on Tuesday.
The Indian trio finished second with a total score of 328 points. China won the gold medal with 346 points while Kuwait took bronze with 325 points. India was three points ahead of Kuwait.
The result continued India's good shooting performance at the 2026 Asian Games, where India's shooters won several podium positions in the competition.
Neeru Dhanda leads India’s challenge
Neeru Dhanda was the best performer in the women's trap team event in India. She scored 118 out of 125. Aashima Ahlawat scored 106 and Manisha Keer 104.
Together, their scores took India to 328 points, which meant the silver medal behind the Chinese team. China's Liu Shanshan, Sun Yunong and Zhu Jingyu combined for 346 points to secure the top spot.
Neeru's performance was particularly significant because she also made it into the individual women's trap final after finishing joint-top in qualification. Her qualification score also set a Games qualification record, she said.
The individual final gives Neeru another chance to compete for a medal, though the team silver has already secured India's podium finish in the event.
The women’s trap competition was held at the Aichi Prefectural General Shooting Gallery in Japan. The trap programme consisted of qualification rounds followed by individual finals and mixed team competition later in the Games.
India’s run in shooting continues.
The women's trap silver adds to India's growing medal tally in shooting at the Aichi-Nagoya Games.
India had already secured several shooting medals before Tuesday's trap event. Esha Singh won silver in the women's 25m pistol individual event on September 28 after a close shoot-off against China's Xiao Jiaruixuan. India also finished fourth in the women's 25m pistol team event.
The trap medal also increases India's presence in a sport that has long contributed to the country's Asian Games medal count.
The Indian shooting team in the 2026 Asian Games consists of 30 athletes competing across 28 medal events. Rifle, pistol and shotgun events are there, as well as individual and team competitions.
For the women's trap team, the silver also came after three Indian shooters successfully completed the qualification stages and combined their scores in the team competition.
China takes gold, Kuwait claims bronze
China dominated the women's trap team standings with a score of 346 points, finishing 18 points ahead of India.
Kuwait got the bronze medal with 325 points. India maintained its position at the top of the final rankings above Kuwait to finish second.
The medal adds to India's total performance at the Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games, where the country has participated in athletics, shooting, boxing, archery, squash and several other sports.
The women's trap result also comes on a busy Day 11 of the Games, with Indian athletes participating in several medal events and knockout competitions in various disciplines.
With Neeru Dhanda advancing to the individual final, India still has another chance for a medal in women’s trap shooting. The mixed team trap event is also on September 30, so there is another chance for Indian shooters to compete for the podium.
The silver won by Neeru Dhanda, Aashima Ahlawat, and Manisha Keer is another great achievement for India's shooting team in the 2026 Asian Games. With a total of 328 points, India placed second behind China, and Kuwait was third, giving India another podium finish in Aichi-Nagoya.
