New Delhi: Indian shooter Neeru Dhanda clinched the women’s trap gold medal at the ISSF Shotgun World Cup 2026 in Lonato, Italy, on Saturday, earning India its second shotgun World Cup medal of the season and its first gold.
Neeru topped the qualification round with 121 out of a possible 125 points to secure a place in the eight-shooter final, according to reports.
She carried that form into the final, comfortably progressing into the medal positions before facing former world champion Carole Cormenier of France in a closely fought contest for the title.
The two shooters were tied at 25 after the opening shots of the final stage. With only two targets remaining, Cormenier missed under pressure while Neeru held her nerve to clinch the gold medal.
Italy’s Erica Sessa secured the bronze medal, while Paris 2024 Olympic silver medallist Silvana Stanco, competing on home soil, was the first shooter to be eliminated in the medal round.
The victory marked Neeru’s maiden individual medal at an ISSF World Cup and the second World Cup medal of her career. Earlier this year, she teamed up with Vivaan Kumar to win bronze in mixed trap at the Almaty leg.
Another Indian shooter, Manisha Keer, narrowly missed a place in the final after finishing 10th in the qualification round.
India, however, had a disappointing outing in the men’s trap event, with none of its shooters reaching the final.
