New Delhi: Indian shotgun shooting has a glorious new chapter, and the entire nation is celebrating a phenomenal milestone. Returning home from the prestigious ISSF Shotgun World Cup in Lonato, Italy, is the newly crowned champion Neeru Dhanda, who scripted history by capturing the first-ever gold medal for India in the women’s trap event at a world cup.
Travelling alongside the history-maker was the President of the National Rifle Association of India, Shri Kalikesh Narayan Singh Deo, sharing in the joy of an unforgettable campaign. Lonato is widely revered as the most challenging and fiercely competitive shotgun arena on the planet, making this triumphant gold medal even more spectacular.
The 26-year-old marksman put on a masterclass of composure and precision. She first set the range ablaze by shattering the national record with a qualification score of 121 out of 125. Stepping into the final against a stacked international field, she stayed absolutely calm under immense pressure, hitting a brilliant 27 out of 30 targets to edge out former World Champion Carole Cormenier of France in a thrilling finish.
This world-class performance not only shatters a long-standing barrier for Indian women’s trap shooting but also highlights the wave of positive structural reforms taking place under the leadership of Shri Kalikesh Narayan Singh Deo. Since stepping into the presidency, Shri Singh Deo has driven a dynamic modernization of the NRAI, heavily focusing on boosting athlete exposure, expanding grassroots infrastructure, and institutionalizing an elite high-performance team.
From introducing major systemic changes like building dual senior national teams (Teams A and B) to ensure a wider pool of international exposure, to launching the ambitious franchise-based Shooting League of India (SLI), his administration is radically redefining how the sport is run. These progressive efforts to make the sport more audience-friendly, combined with ambitious nationwide grassroots programs targeting the next generation, are creating a robust foundation for Indian marksmen.
Neeru Dhanda’s historic feat is a brilliant testament to the professional, results-oriented ecosystem now thriving at the NRAI. It is an incredible moment of pride for Indian sports, and congratulations are pouring in for Neeru on a magnificent, trailblazing victory that signals an exciting, reformed future for shooting across the country.