Asian Games 2026: Neeru-Kynan win trap mixed team gold

The Indian pair of Neeru Dhanda and Kynan Chenai clinched the gold medal in the trap mixed team event of the Asian Games in nagoya on Wednesday, smashing the continental record in the process.

The Indian team shot a score of 34 in the final after qualifying in the fourth position. Qatar's Mohammed Al-Rumaihi and Ray Bassil took the silver with a score of 32.

The previous Asian record of 30, which was in Qatar's name, was set only this year in January.

China's Qi Ying and Sun Yunong ended with bronze after firing a score of 23.

The medal marks a remarkable end to the Asian Games campaign of the 26-year-old Neeru, who became India's first woman shooter to claim an individual trap medal at the showpiece with her gold that came on the back of an Asian record-shattering score on Tuesday.

This was after she led the Indian women's trap team to a silver.

During the qualification round on Wednesday, Kynan was the better of the two Indians, shooting a score of 73, while Neeru fired a rather underwhelming 63.

Kynan continued his good form in the final with consistent hits while Neeru also came back strongly after a shaky start.

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."

(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by The Bridge Desk. It is published from a syndicated feed)