Neeru Dhanda, Kynan Chenai win trap mixed team gold, smash Asian record
Neeru Dhanda and Kynan Chenai added another shooting gold to India's Asian Games haul on Wednesday, winning the trap mixed team title with a continental record at the Games here.
The Indian pair shot 34 in the final after qualifying in fourth place to finish ahead of Qatar's Mohammed Al-Rumaihi and Ray Bassil, who took silver with 32. China's Qi Ying and Sun Yunong won bronze with 23.
India's score bettered the previous Asian record of 30, held by Qatar and set only in January this year.
The gold capped a remarkable Asian Games campaign for Neeru, who became the first Indian woman to win an individual trap medal at the continental showpiece when she claimed the women's individual title on Tuesday with another Asian record.
The 26-year-old had also helped India win silver in the women's trap team event alongside Aashima Ahlawat and Manisha Keer.
Neeru and Kynan had to recover from contrasting qualification-round performances. Kynan was the stronger of the two, shooting 73, while Neeru managed 63.
Kynan maintained his consistency in the final, while Neeru recovered from a shaky start to help India move ahead and secure the gold.
The pairing has already tasted international success together, having won a World Cup bronze earlier this year. Kynan, whose father Darius was also a national-level shotgun shooter, described their combination as a lucky one.
"We hope to stick together as a mixed team but all that also depends on the federation," he said.
Neeru attributed her lower qualification score to the physical effects of competing in her individual event a day earlier in difficult conditions.
"My 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 my body," she said.
Neeru had competed in the individual event amid persistent rain and plunging temperatures before producing a record-breaking performance to win gold.
Shooting has now contributed 15 medals to India's tally at the Games, including three gold, eight silver and four bronze.
At the previous edition in Hangzhou, Indian shooters won 22 medals, including seven gold.
For Neeru, Wednesday's victory completed a memorable double after her breakthrough individual triumph, while Kynan added another major Asian Games title to a partnership that has already produced a World Cup medal.
