Meet Naib Subedar Neeru Dhanda: India’s 1st Woman Trap World Cup Champion from the Army Marksmanship Unit

In the world of competitive shooting, breakthroughs often come after years of quiet, relentless work. On 12 July 2026, at the ISSF Shotgun World Cup in Lonato, Italy, one such breakthrough arrived. Naib Subedar Neeru Dhanda of the Indian Army’s Army Marksmanship Unit (AMU) became the first Indian woman to win an individual gold medal in trap at an ISSF World Cup.

With a national record score of 121 out of 125 in qualification and a composed 27 out of 30 in the final, the 26-year-old from Haryana’s Jind district outlasted former world champion and Olympian Carole Cormenier of France. The victory was not just personal. It was historic for Indian trap shooting and a proud moment for the Indian Army.

From Jind to the World Stage

Neeru Dhanda was born into a middle-class farming family in Jind district, Haryana. Her father works as a farmer and her mother is a homemaker. More than a decade ago, the family relocated to Shivpuri in Madhya Pradesh.

Her entry into shooting was inspired by family. After watching her maternal cousin Lakshay Sheoran win silver in trap at the 2018 Asian Games, Neeru developed a serious interest in the sport. Lakshay, her maternal uncle’s son, guided her early efforts and even lent her his first gun. Before formal training, she practised by shooting tin cans with a family-owned double-barrel shotgun to get used to the recoil.

She later cleared trials to join the Madhya Pradesh State Shooting Academy, where structured coaching began. The foundation built in those early years would eventually carry her to the highest levels of the sport.

Joining the Indian Army

When the Indian Army opened rank-and-file recruitment to women, Neeru joined the Corps of Military Police. She was later selected for the Army Marksmanship Unit at the Infantry School in Mhow, one of India’s premier centres for precision shooting under the Army’s Mission Olympics Wing.

Today she holds the rank of Naib Subedar and is set to be promoted to Subedar. The AMU has produced several international champions, and Neeru’s rise is the latest chapter in that tradition of military excellence in sport.

Climbing the Ladder: Key Milestones

Neeru’s progress has been steady and marked by consistency:

• 2022: Gold in Women’s Trap at the National Games.
• Multiple gold medals at the Khelo India University Games (four consecutive titles).
• 2025: Historic gold in Women’s Trap at the Asian Shooting Championships in Shymkent, Kazakhstan — the first time an Indian woman topped the podium in the event at the Asian level. She also contributed to the women’s team gold.
• Gold at the 68th National Shooting Championship.
• 2026 ISSF World Cup, Almaty: Bronze in Mixed Team Trap with Vivaan Kapoor — her first World Cup medal.
• July 2026 ISSF Shotgun World Cup, Lonato: Individual gold in Women’s Trap with a national record qualification score.

The Lonato final was particularly dramatic. After both Neeru and Cormenier reached 25 hits, the French shooter faltered on the final shots while Neeru held her nerve to finish with 27. Italy’s Erica Sessa took bronze.

The Support System Behind the Success

Neeru trains under British coach Peter Wilson, the London 2012 Olympic trap gold medallist, with Olympian Mansher Singh serving as High-Performance Manager. She has repeatedly credited a strong support ecosystem: the Indian Army, Madhya Pradesh State Shooting Academy / Bhopal Shooting Academy, Sports Authority of India under the Target Olympic Podium Scheme (TOPS), Olympic Gold Quest (OGQ), and the National Rifle Association of India (NRAI).

After her Lonato victory she said, “The day felt like a very special day for the entire Indian shooting team and for India, especially for me, my family, the Indian Army, Bhopal Shooting Academy, the NRAI and SAI. It was a huge day for everyone.”

Mindset of a Champion

What sets Neeru apart is her mental approach. Reflecting on the final, she explained her strategy: “When they announced my name, I gave my mind a signal of energy and victory, telling myself I had won… Those standing there might be champions, but on that day, if I’m standing with them, I’m also a champion. My mindset was: I am a champion.”

She added that she treated every shot as a fresh challenge and an opportunity, resetting mentally after each target. Her advice to young athletes is simple and direct: “Wherever you are, whether winning or losing, in any condition or profession, don’t give up. You have to fight everywhere, and you must fight strongly.”

Looking Ahead

Neeru’s immediate focus is the 2026 Asian Games in Aichi-Nagoya, Japan, where she will compete in individual, team and mixed team trap events. Beyond that lies the ISSF World Championship in Doha later in 2026, where she aims for both a medal and an Olympic quota place. Her ultimate goal remains clear: a strong campaign at the Los Angeles 2028 Olympics.

A Moment of Pride for the Indian Army

Naib Subedar Neeru Dhanda’s journey from a farming family in Haryana to the top of the world podium embodies the values the Indian Army seeks to instil — discipline, resilience, and the pursuit of excellence under pressure.

Her gold medal is more than a personal triumph. It is a landmark for women’s trap shooting in India and a powerful reminder of the role the Army Marksmanship Unit continues to play in producing world-class athletes. For defence aspirants and young women across the country, her story offers a clear message: with sustained effort, the right guidance, and unwavering self-belief, history can be rewritten.