India’s shooting contingent continued its gold rush at the Asian Games as Neeru Dhanda and Kynan Chenai clinched the mixed team trap title on Wednesday, setting a new Asian record in the process.
The Indian pair, who had qualified for the final in fourth place, produced a score of 34 to finish ahead of Qatar’s Mohammed Al-Rumaihi and Ray Bassil, who settled for silver with 32. China’s Qi Ying and Sun Yunong took the bronze after scoring 23.
The victory gave India its ninth gold medal of the Asian Games and further strengthened the country’s impressive showing in shooting.
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Neeru And Kynan's Heroics
Neeru and Kynan’s winning score also eclipsed the previous Asian record of 30, which was held by Qatar. The mark had been established only in January this year, making India’s performance even more significant.
After the event both opened up on their performances. Kynan, whose father Darius was also a national level shotgun shooter, called his and Neeru''s pairing a lucky one.
They had earlier won a World Cup bronze this year. "We hope to stick together as a mixed team but all that also depends on the federation," he said.
Neeru said her score in the qualification wasn't that great because of the "stiffness caused by yesterday's competition and the way the rain and cold affected her body."
For Neeru, the mixed team gold brought the curtain down on a memorable Asian Games campaign. The 26-year-old had already made history on Tuesday by becoming the first Indian woman shooter to win an individual trap medal at the continental showpiece.
She had clinched gold in the individual trap event with another Asian-record performance, making her one of the standout performers of India’s shooting campaign.
Neeru’s success in the mixed team event also meant that she finished the Games with two gold medals, while Kynan added another major continental title to his career.
The Indian duo held their nerve in the final to finish two points clear of Qatar, with China further behind in third place.
India's Nith Gold
The result added another gold to India’s medal tally on a busy Day 11 of the Asian Games, with the country also chasing medals across several other disciplines.
India’s shooters have played a key role in the country’s medal campaign, and the mixed trap triumph provided another highlight as the competition entered its final stages.
With nine gold medals now in the bag, India will look to build on its tally in the remaining days of the Games.