'Medals Will Now Come Much More Consistently': Neeru Dhanda After Historic ISSF World Cup Triumph

Fresh off scripting history at the ISSF World Cup Shotgun in Lonato, Italy, Indian trap shooter Neeru Dhanda believes her landmark victory has opened the door for a new era in Indian women's shotgun shooting.

The 26-year-old Naib Subedar became the first Indian woman to win a gold medal in the trap event at an ISSF World Cup, producing one of the finest performances of her career. Before clinching the title, Neeru also rewrote the national record with an outstanding qualification score of 121 out of 125, underlining her dominance throughout the competition.

In the final, she held her nerve against an elite field, eventually overcoming former world champion Carole Cormenier of France to secure the biggest international title of her career.

While the gold medal itself was historic, Neeru believes its true significance lies in what it represents for the future of Indian women's trap shooting.

Speaking after her victory, Neeru described the emotional moment of standing on top of the podium while the Indian national anthem played. 

"Watching the national flag go up on the podium was an incredible feeling. It made me realise that the world's best shooters are well within our reach," she said.

For Indian women's trap shooting, the victory represents the end of a long wait for success at the highest level. "We did not have a women's trap medal at this level for a very long time, so this gold finally breaks that barrier. I am confident that medals will now come much more consistently for India."

Her comments reflect a growing belief within Indian shooting that success at the global level is becoming increasingly sustainable rather than being viewed as isolated achievements.

Neeru's composure during the final was one of the defining features of her victory. Competing alongside experienced international shooters, including a former world champion, the Indian shooter never appeared overwhelmed by the occasion. She revealed that her approach was deliberately simple.

"When you compete alongside a world champion, you have to believe you are a champion too."

Rather than focusing on the performances of her rivals, Neeru concentrated entirely on executing her own routine. "I blocked out everything else and focused completely on my own routine. It didn't matter to me who was hitting or missing around me." The strategy proved highly effective as she maintained remarkable consistency throughout the pressure-filled final.

"Nothing is impossible when you stay calm, live in the present, and train with absolute focus." The ability to remain mentally composed under pressure has increasingly become one of the defining characteristics of India's top shooters.

Despite achieving the biggest success of her career, Neeru is already looking beyond the World Cup triumph. She described the victory as an important milestone rather than the final destination. "This gold is a great start, but the real work begins now." India's elite shooters will soon assemble for the National Camp as preparations intensify for the World Championships and the qualification pathway towards the Los Angeles Olympic Games.

"We have the National Camp coming up, and my focus is completely on the World Championships and securing the Olympic quota." Like every elite shooter, Neeru has one ultimate ambition.

"My ultimate goal is to win a gold medal at the Los Angeles Olympics, and our preparation for that dream starts right here." The statement highlights the long-term planning that now defines India's shooting programme, where every World Cup performance forms part of a larger Olympic cycle.

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India's foreign shotgun coach, Peter Wilson, believes Neeru's success has been built over several years rather than arriving overnight. According to Wilson, a crucial turning point came when Neeru won the Asian Championships in Shymkent. "Neeru has improved tremendously, and winning in Shymkent last year gave her the belief that she belongs on the big stage."

The Olympic champion also praised the work Neeru has put in away from competitions. "She has put in a massive amount of invisible hard work out of the range, and this gold is a perfect reward for her perseverance." Wilson made it clear that India's ambitions now extend beyond occasional podium finishes.

"I want India to dominate the global shotgun circuit, not just participate."

Wilson drew comparisons with one of British shooting's defining moments. He recalled how Richard Faulds' Olympic gold medal at the Sydney 2000 Games transformed British shotgun shooting by giving an entire generation confidence that global success was achievable. "When Richard Faulds won Olympic Gold for the UK in 2000, he broke the mould, and an entire generation of British shooters flourished because they realised they could win too."

Wilson believes Neeru's victory can have the same impact on Indian shooting.

"Neeru has done the exact same thing for India. She has shown the entire squad that global gold is possible, and we want to use this momentum to push our boundaries." His remarks underline the broader significance of Neeru's achievement. Beyond winning a World Cup title, she has provided tangible proof that Indian women can stand atop the podium in one of shooting's most competitive disciplines.

Indian shooting has enjoyed sustained success in rifle and pistol events over the past two decades, but shotgun disciplines have gradually emerged as another area of strength. Neeru Dhanda's historic gold medal could prove to be a watershed moment for women's trap shooting in India. By breaking both the national record in qualification and the long-standing medal barrier at the ISSF World Cup, she has established a new benchmark for future generations.

As preparations begin for the World Championships, the Asian Games, and ultimately the Los Angeles Olympics, Neeru's confidence appears stronger than ever.

If her prediction proves accurate, Indian women's trap shooting may indeed be entering a period where international medals become not an exception but an expectation.