New Delhi: Naib Subedar Neeru Dhanda has been selected as India’s women’s flag-bearer for the Asian Games 2026 Closing Ceremony in Nagoya, Japan. The honour comes after her outstanding performance at the Games, where she emerged as one of India’s top medal winners. Indian officials confirmed that Dhanda will carry the national flag during the closing ceremony scheduled at Mizuho Park Athletic Stadium.
The recognition highlights her remarkable achievements in shooting and her growing stature in Indian sports.
Official Confirmation From Indian Contingent
India’s Deputy Chief of Mission, Anjali Bhagwat, confirmed the decision before the closing ceremony. According to officials, Dhanda had already returned to her hometown in Haryana after completing her competitions. However, after being informed about the honour, she quickly made arrangements to travel back to Nagoya for the ceremony. The men’s flag-bearer had not been announced at the time of the confirmation.
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Who Is Neeru Dhanda
Neeru Dhanda (born May 25, 2000) is an Indian sport shooter who specializes in trap shooting. Hailing originally from the Jind district of Haryana with roots later in Madhya Pradesh, she has broken multiple national and international records, emerging as a leading figure in Indian shooting sports.
Background & Early Life of Neeru Dhanda
- Roots: Born in Jind, Haryana, her family later moved to Shivpuri, Madhya Pradesh.
- Inspiration: She initially played kabaddi before turning her focus to shooting, inspired by her maternal cousin and Asian Games medalist Lakshay Sheoran.
- Humble Beginnings: Coming from a farming background, her family could not initially afford an expensive professional shooting setup. She practiced early on with family-owned equipment and trained under her cousin before clearing selection trials for the Madhya Pradesh State Shooting Academy.
- Military Career: Following the opening of rank-and-file recruitment for women in the Indian Army, she joined the Corps of Military Police and serves as a Naib Subedar, training with the Army Marksmanship Unit in Mhow.
Major Career Milestones
- Breakthrough: Dhanda made her international debut at the 2022 ISSF World Championships in Osijek.
- Asian Championships (2025): She won gold medals in both the individual and team women’s trap events at the Asian Shooting Championships in Shymkent, Kazakhstan.
- World Cup History (2026): She created history at the ISSF Shotgun World Cup in Lonato del Garda, Italy, by winning the women’s trap gold medal—becoming the first Indian woman to win an individual World Cup gold in the event. She also secured a mixed-team bronze at the Almaty World Cup with Vivaan Kapoor.
- Asian Games (2026): She captured an individual gold medal in women’s trap with a record-breaking performance, alongside team silver and mixed-team gold medals. She was also honored as India’s flag bearer for the closing ceremony of the games.
Historic Asian Games 2026 Performance
Dhanda delivered one of the finest performances by an Indian shooter at the Asian Games. She won the women’s individual trap gold medal, becoming the first Indian woman to win an individual Asian Games title in the discipline. She scored 28 hits out of 30 targets in the final and set a Games record.
Multiple Medals For India
Apart from her individual gold medal, Dhanda also contributed significantly in team events. Her campaign included:
- Gold medal in Women’s Individual Trap
- Gold medal in Mixed Trap Team Event
- Silver medal in Women’s Trap Team Event
These results made her one of India’s leading medal winners at the Games.
Success Before The Asian Games
Dhanda’s rise did not begin in Nagoya. In July 2026, she won the women’s trap gold medal at the ISSF Shotgun World Cup in Italy. Earlier, she also captured gold medals at major international shooting events, establishing herself among India’s most successful trap shooters. Her consistent performances throughout 2025 and 2026 helped her become one of the strongest medal contenders for India.
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FAQs
She was selected because of her exceptional performance at the Asian Games 2026, where she won multiple medals and emerged as one of India’s top performers.
Neeru Dhanda serves as a Naib Subedar in the Corps of Military Police and trains with the Army Marksmanship Unit in Mhow.
Neeru Dhanda won two gold medals and one silver medal during the Asian Games 2026 shooting competitions.
