Neeru Dhanda Shines with Fourth Place Finish as Indian Shooters Show Promise at ISSF Shotgun World Cup in Lonato
On the penultimate day of the ISSF World Cup Shotgun stage in Lonato, Italy, India’s Neeru Dhanda delivered a career-defining performance, finishing fourth in the women’s trap final at what was her very first ISSF World Cup final appearance. Against a field packed with world-class competitors, the National Games champion showcased grit and composure, marking an important step forward for Indian women’s trap shooting on the global stage.
A breakthrough performance in her debut final
Neeru qualified for the final in dramatic fashion, winning a tense 2-1 shoot-off against Italy’s Alessia Iezzi the 2023 New Delhi World Cup Final winner to secure the sixth and final qualifying spot. Her qualification tally of 115 came from consistent shooting across her five qualification rounds: she recovered impressively on Saturday, scoring 25 and 24 to add to her overnight total of 66 (from rounds of 21, 23, and 22).
In the final, Neeru held her nerve and shot 30 hits from her first 35 targets, briefly tying for second place with seasoned campaigners: Lada Denisova of the Neutral Athletes (AIN), who had won the Nicosia World Cup stage earlier this season, and Italy’s Silvana Maria Stanco, a Paris Olympic silver medallist. Yet, owing to her lower qualification score and the bib number system that ranks shooters tied in the final based on qualifying scores Neeru had to settle for fourth place, narrowly missing out on a medal.
Australia’s Laetisha Scanlan, a proven champion in women’s trap, claimed gold with 45 hits, underlining her consistency at the top level. While Neeru did not step onto the podium, her performance against such a formidable field of 101 shooters was a standout achievement, especially for an athlete making her final debut at this level.
Strong performances from Preeti Rajak and Pragati Dubey
In the same event, fellow Indian shooter Preeti Rajak also showed her fighting spirit. After an overnight tally of 66 (20, 24, 22), Preeti added solid rounds of 23 and 25 to reach a total of 114 just one target shy of joining Neeru in the shoot-off for a finals berth. She eventually finished eighth.
Pragati Dubey, who shot rounds of 18, 18, 21, 19, and 24, totaled exactly 100 and placed further down the leaderboard. While she was outside contention for the final, the experience of competing at this level will serve her well.
Zoravar Singh Sandhu leads the men’s trap challenge
Veteran shooter Zoravar Singh Sandhu put up a valiant fight in the men’s trap. After shooting scores of 24, 25, and 24 in the first three rounds, Zoravar added 24 and 24 on the final day to finish with a tally of 121. This placed him in a five-way shoot-off alongside at least two former Olympic champions for the final two spots in the top six.
Unfortunately, Zoravar missed his second shot in the shoot-off and bowed out. Despite the disappointment, his consistent scoring in a field of 183 shooters, which included a mix of experienced champions and rising talents, reflected his continued competitiveness on the international circuit.
His teammates, Lakshay Sheoran and Jaswinder Singh, finished with identical scores of 116. Lakshay posted rounds of 24, 22, 24, 23, and 23, while Jaswinder shot 23, 24, 22, 23, and 24. Though both missed out on finals qualification, these performances highlight the growing bench strength in Indian men’s trap shooting.
Indian mixed trap pairs finish mid-table
In the mixed team event held on Sunday, two Indian pairs were in action among 54 teams. The pair of Lakshay Sheoran (22, 19, 25) and Neeru Dhanda (25, 24, 25) combined for a total of 140 out of a possible 150, finishing 10th—just outside the spots needed to qualify for the medal matches.
The second Indian pair, comprising Zoravar Singh Sandhu (21, 23, 24) and Preeti Rajak (23, 24, 23), scored 138 to finish in 22nd place. Although neither team advanced, both pairs showed encouraging consistency against world-class opposition.
Skeet shooters fall short of finals
In skeet, India’s shooters couldn’t break into the top six. Olympian Mairaj Ahmad Khan was the best-placed among the men, finishing 30th in a massive field of 176 shooters. Mairaj posted rounds of 24, 25, 24, 25, and 23 for a total of 121. A slightly stronger final round could have lifted him higher up the leaderboard, but the competition proved fierce.
Bhavtegh Gill shot 23, 25, 25, 25, and 21 to total 119 and ended up 75th. Among the women, Ganemat Sekhon also an Olympian tallied 116 from rounds of 23, 25, 24, 24, and 20, finishing 30th. Maheshwari Chauhan (24, 22, 22, 25, 23) matched Ganemat’s total of 116 to place 27th, while Raiza Dhillon (22, 23, 24, 24, 22) scored 115 for a 33rd-place finish.
While these finishes were outside finals contention, competing at this level remains vital for building experience ahead of future World Cups and the upcoming championship cycle.
A promising sign for Indian shooting
Overall, the ISSF Shotgun World Cup in Lonato offered a mix of close calls, breakthroughs, and valuable experience. Neeru Dhanda’s final debut and fourth-place finish in women’s trap stands out as the headline story, proving she belongs among the best on the international circuit.
Performances like hers, combined with solid scores from teammates across trap and skeet, underline the quiet progress Indian shooting is making outside the Olympic spotlight. With consistent exposure to high-pressure finals and deeper fields, India’s next generation of shotgun shooters is learning to compete and challenge for places at the very top.
As the season continues, these experiences will prove invaluable in the build-up to major championships and the road to the Los Angeles 2028 Olympics. Congratulations to Neeru Dhanda and all the Indian shooters for pushing boundaries and keeping the tricolour flying high on the global stage.
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