Indian shooter Neeru Dhanda earned her first ISSF World Cup gold medal through a steady display in the women’s trap at the ISSF Shotgun World Cup in Lonato, Italy, on Saturday.
She recorded 27 hits out of 30 targets in the final, staying calm during a close finish to claim the biggest international win of her career.
The result gave India its first individual shotgun medal of the current ISSF World Cup season and only the second such medal for the country this year.
Neeru topped qualification with 121 points from 125. In the eight-shooter final she stayed near the front and entered a tight contest for gold against France’s Carole Cormenier.
The match reached the final two shots with both athletes on 25 hits. Cormenier missed under pressure while Neeru held steady to finish on 27 and take gold. Italy’s Erica Sessa won bronze.
Paris 2024 Olympic silver medallist Silvana Stanco struggled in the home final and became the first eliminated despite entering as a favourite.
The victory is Neeru’s first individual ISSF World Cup medal and her second World Cup medal overall. Earlier she won mixed trap bronze with Vivaan Kumar at the event in Almaty.
Manisha Keer finished tenth in qualification and missed the final. No Indian advanced to the men’s trap medal round; Kynan Chenai placed 71st while Prithviraj Tondaiman ranked 32nd.
