India’s dominance in shooting received another golden touch in Shymkent, Kazakhstan, as Neeru clinched the Asian Championship title in Women’s Trap at the 16th Asian Shooting Championships 2025.
The 22-year-old shooter from the Madhya Pradesh State Shooting Academy produced a stellar performance to win her first senior continental crown, edging past seasoned campaigners in a highly competitive final. Neeru’s triumph was part of a historic outing for India in women’s trap on Day 8 of the championships, with Aashima Ahlawat taking bronze and the Indian women’s trap team securing gold in the team event. It was a triple celebration that further highlighted the rising depth of India’s shotgun program.
The women’s trap final was a battle of precision and mental strength. Among the contenders was Qatar’s veteran shooter Ray Bassil, a multiple Asian champion and Olympian. Bassil brought years of experience to the range, but on the day, Neeru held her nerve better. The young Indian shot with remarkable composure, rarely missing her targets across the stages. By the closing rounds, she had pulled clear of Bassil to claim the title. Bassil settled for silver, while India’s Aashima Ahlawat fought bravely to secure bronze, making it two Indians on the podium.
The final standings were:
- 🥇 Neeru (India)
- 🥈 Ray Bassil (Qatar)
- 🥉 Aashima Ahlawat (India)
For Neeru, the gold medal was a career-defining breakthrough, showcasing her as one of Asia’s finest trap shooters.
A Star from Madhya Pradesh
Neeru’s win was also a testament to India’s growing state-level sporting infrastructure. Trained at the Madhya Pradesh State Shooting Academy, Neeru is part of a new wave of athletes emerging from the system that has already produced champions like rifle shooter Aishwary Pratap Singh Tomar. This gold was the fourth Asian Championship title won by shooters from the academy at Shymkent, underlining the academy’s growing influence on Indian shooting. Neeru’s performance adds to the momentum and proves that grassroots investments are now translating into continental and global success.
India’s success in women’s trap was not limited to individual medals. With Neeru and Aashima’s strong performances complemented by teammate contributions, the Indian women’s trap team finished at the top of the standings to win gold in the team event. The team victory further underlined India’s depth in shotgun shooting — a discipline that has often lived in the shadow of rifle and pistol but is now producing champions with increasing regularity.
Aashima’s Bronze: Consistency Rewarded
While Neeru stole the headlines, Aashima Ahlawat’s bronze was equally significant. The young shooter has been building consistency over the past few seasons, and her podium finish in Shymkent signals her steady rise. To share the podium with her compatriot was also a proud moment for Indian shooting, reflecting the competitiveness within the national squad itself. The results in trap added to what has already been a fruitful campaign for India at the Asian Championships. As of Day 8, India’s medal tally stood at:
- 7 Gold
- 3 Silver
- 8 Bronze
This places India firmly among the top-performing nations at the competition, ahead of heavyweights like Korea, Japan, and Qatar in several disciplines.
Parallel Updates: Bhaker and Esha in the Spotlight
While the trap shooters were celebrating, India’s pistol stars also made headlines. Manu Bhaker and Esha Singh, two of India’s biggest names in women’s pistol, both shot impressive 588 scores in qualification to finish in the top two spots and advance to the 25m Pistol final. Unfortunately, the final did not go India’s way. Manu endured yet another heartbreaking fourth-place finish, echoing her near-miss in the 25m Air Pistol earlier in the week. Esha Singh placed sixth in the same event. Despite the disappointment, their consistency at qualification continues to keep India in the mix at every major final.
The trio of Manu, Esha, and Simranpreet Kaur (who finished 17th with 573) combined to win bronze in the team event, ensuring India still walked away with a medal from the 25m pistol on Day 8.
Neeru’s triumph is significant not only for her career but also for India’s long-term aspirations in shotgun shooting. Trap has historically been dominated by shooters from China, Korea, and the Middle East. An Indian topping the podium at the Asian level shows how far the program has come. Moreover, her success serves as inspiration for young women across India considering careers in shooting.
Coming from a state academy setup, her rise demonstrates that world-class champions can be produced from regional systems when backed with the right infrastructure and coaching.
With her gold, Neeru has cemented herself as one of India’s brightest prospects in shotgun shooting. The immediate challenge will be to build on this success and aim for consistency at the World Cup and World Championship stages, eventually eyeing qualification for the Los Angeles 2028 Olympics. For India, the wider takeaway from Shymkent is the depth across categories. Whether it is Neeru and Aashima in trap, Manu and Esha in pistol, or rifle shooters like Aishwary Tomar, Indian shooting is no longer dependent on a handful of names. Instead, it boasts a strong pool capable of delivering medals across events.
Day 8 of the Asian Shooting Championships 2025 will be remembered as Neeru’s golden day. Her composure under pressure and precision at the range brought India an individual gold, a team gold, and together with Aashima Ahlawat’s bronze, a complete sweep in women’s trap. For a shooter still early in her career, this performance marks the beginning of what promises to be an exciting journey. For Indian shooting, it reinforces the nation’s growing stature as a powerhouse in Asia.
