Nagoya, September 30 (Daily Kiran) : Neeru Dhanda’s journey at the Asian Games took a remarkable turn as she battled illness just days before arriving in Aichi-Nagoya. The Indian trap shooter not only clinched a gold medal in the individual event but also secured a silver in the team competition. On Wednesday, she partnered with Kyanan Chenai to win gold in the mixed team event.
Reflecting on her experience, Neeru emphasized that the most significant memory isn’t tied to a specific shot or medal ceremony, but rather the preparation and recovery that made her participation possible.
Initially ranked fourth in the mixed team medal round, Neeru and Chenai made a stunning comeback, defeating Qatar in the final to claim the gold. As the first Indian woman to win an individual gold medal in trap shooting at the Asian Games, Neeru expressed that she has yet to fully comprehend the magnitude of her achievement.
In an exclusive interview, she shared, “It doesn’t feel like an ordinary competition, but I haven’t had the moment to realize that I won that difficult gold medal. I haven’t had the time to sit and truly feel that I’ve accomplished what I had envisioned.”
Her response is particularly poignant given the challenges she faced leading up to the Games. Days before the competition, Neeru was recovering from illness, leaving uncertainty about her ability to compete.
The double gold medalist recounted, “At that time, I had to keep myself motivated. First, I focused on improving my health. After that, I thought about the future. My coach inspired me to push forward, sharing his own experiences and the difficulties he faced. He reminded me that once you recover from illness, you feel rejuvenated. He encouraged me to take care of myself, eat well, and remember that I had trained for an entire year with purpose for this moment.”
Neeru’s gold in the mixed team event came after a competition where the Indian duo had to overcome a lackluster performance in the qualification round. With limited communication during shooting, Neeru noted that Chenai’s gestures and brief exchanges during technical interruptions helped maintain focus and patience.
“When we are there, we can’t talk much, but he kept signaling me to keep going. He said I had to fight until the last shot. The technical issue gave me a moment to gather my thoughts. We discussed how I should approach the fight, focusing on one shot at a time,” she explained.
The mixed team gold completed a medal streak that began with her individual victory, followed by a silver alongside Ashima Ahlawat and Manisha Keer in the team event.
When asked to differentiate between the three medals, Neeru stated, “In the individual event, the final is crucial. How you perform in the final matters. In the team event, the entire team’s contribution is what counts. For instance, I was performing well, but my teammates were encouraging me. There were days I didn’t play my best, but they worked hard to support me. We stood by each other. The medals belong to the whole team. They also continuously motivated me in my individual event, playing a vital role in my gold win. In the mixed team event, I had a senior partner who also kept encouraging me.”
Neeru credited the Indian shooting system for fostering an environment conducive to preparation and competition. “The entire federation has contributed. We are utilizing every resource provided by NRAI to move forward. The federation has supported us at every level. Previously, we had one camp a year; now we have two or three. The needs of the athletes matter. We discussed with the federation and SAI last year about our requirements, leading to the appointment of Peter Wilson as our coach. Much improvement has occurred, and the federation has played a significant role in that support.”
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