Shooting / Neeru, Kynan Strike Gold in Trap Mixed Team Event at Asian Games

Nagoya, Sep 30: Under the bright lights of Nagoya, India’s shooters scripted another golden chapter as Neeru Dhanda and Kynan Chenai overcame a shaky start to deliver a flawless finish, clinching the trap mixed team gold and reinforcing India’s growing dominance in the sport at the Asian Games 2026.

Qatar secured silver with 32 hits, while China finished with bronze on 23. Iran placed fourth. For India, this was the third gold in shooting at the Games, taking the overall medal tally to 57 medals — nine gold, 21 silver, and 27 bronze.

The final began on a shaky note for India. From their opening 10 shots, Neeru and Kynan managed only six hits, leaving them at the bottom of the standings. Qatar led with seven, while China and Iran also had six. But what followed was an extraordinary turnaround.

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In the second series, the Indian duo found their rhythm and did not miss a single target thereafter. Their flawless run lifted India to 16 hits after 20 shots, level with Qatar, while Iran was eliminated with 12.

A brief technical glitch at Station 1 halted proceedings, but once play resumed, Neeru and Kynan continued their perfect streak.

By the 30‑shot stage, India had surged to 26 hits, while China bowed out with 23. Qatar remained close behind on 24, setting up a tense battle for gold. In the decisive phase, Neeru and Kynan held their composure, finishing with 34 hits to break the Asian record of 33 set by Qatar earlier in 2026.

For Neeru, the triumph capped a stunning two‑day run — individual gold on Tuesday, team silver earlier, and now mixed team gold alongside Kynan. For Kynan, it was his first medal of the Games, adding to India’s growing shooting haul.

From a shaky start to an unbroken sequence of successful shots, the Indian pair transformed the final into a showcase of resilience and precision, sealing their place at the top of a fiercely contested field.

(IANS)