Neeru, Kynan strike gold as India’s shotgun queen shines at Asiad
Neeru Dhanda combined with Kynan Chenai to add the mixed team gold to her individual women’s trap shooting title, capping a historic campaign which made her the most successful Indian athlete at the ongoing Asian Games, here on Wednesday.
The 26-year-old, who made history a day earlier as the first Indian woman to win an individual shotgun gold at the Asian Games, completed a remarkable three-medal haul, having won silver in the women’s team trap event.
The triumph, achieved despite Neeru battling fatigue and the after-effects of an illness that had left her hospitalised in India 10 days before the Games, was all the more remarkable as Kynan stepped up to shoulder the responsibility when his partner struggled to find her rhythm.
The Indian duo clinched gold with an Asian and Games record of 34 hits out of 40 in the final, beating Qatar (32) to deliver another landmark moment for Indian shotgun shooting.
They overcame Qatar, which was coached by Australian shooting legend and two-time Olympic champion Michael Diamond, to secure the gold with three shots to spare.
Neeru missed her final two targets, having already done enough to ensure India’s victory.
The celebrations that followed were as emphatic as the achievement itself.
For Neeru, who had won the team silver alongside Manisha Keer and Aashima Ahlawat, the gold this morning was a fitting reward after battling health concerns owing to an H1N1 scare in India that left her hospitalised for three days.
The effects of her illness, coupled with the physical toll of competing in relentless rain on Tuesday, were evident in the qualification round. Having spent nearly three hours battling the rain the previous day on her way to individual gold, Neeru looked jaded, managing just 63 hits out of 75 in the mixed team qualification on Wednesday. Kynan, however, rose to the occasion.
