Neeru Dhanda and Kynan Chenai Shatter Asian Record to Win Historic Trap Mixed Team Gold
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India's shooting contingent scripted another glorious chapter at the 2026 Asian Games on Wednesday, as the dynamic duo of Neeru Dhanda and Kynan Chenai clinched a historic gold medal in the trap mixed team event. Overcoming a shaky start in the opening series, the Indian pair staged a flawless comeback under high pressure to shatter the Asian record with a total of 34 points, securing India's first-ever gold medal in this specific discipline while Qatar took silver and China claimed bronze.
Sensational Comeback from Opening Stumble to Asian Record
The gold medal shootout began on a tense note for India before turning into a masterclass in precision shooting:
Shaky Opening Round: India stumbled early, hitting just 6 out of 10 targets in the opening series to briefly languish at the bottom of the scoreboard.
Unbroken Perfection: Showing extraordinary composure, Dhanda and Chenai completely turned the tide, refusing to miss a single clay target from the second round onward until the gold medal was firmly sealed.
Podium Finish and Record Score: India edged out silver-medalist Qatar (32/40) and bronze-medalist China (23/30) to finish on top with 34 points, officially establishing a new Asian benchmark. The victory also marked a stellar personal milestone for Neeru Dhanda, who secured her second gold medal in the span of just 48 hours.
Kynan Chenai's Legacy of Precision and Proven Pedigree
Hyderabad-born Olympian Kynan Darius Chenai (born January 29, 1991) reaffirmed his stature as one of India's most dependable and seasoned shotgun marksmen:
Mentored by Legends: Introduced to shotgun shooting in 2003 by his father Darius Chenai, a former national trap shooting champion, Kynan honed his craft under the guidance of four-time Olympian and celebrated coach Mansher Singh.
Decade of International Honors: After bursting onto the international scene with a trap gold at the 2008 Commonwealth Youth Games in Pune, Chenai earned an Olympic quota to represent India at the 2016 Rio Games. He followed this with a stellar campaign at the Hangzhou Asian Games, bagging gold in the men's trap team event and bronze in the individual competition.
Major Career Milestones: His distinguished medal tally features golds at the 2008 Commonwealth Youth Games, the 2021 ISSF World Cup in New Delhi, the 2022 Asian Games team event, and now an Asian Games mixed team title accompanied by an Asian record.
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