India opened its medal account in the 2026 senior shotgun season with a commendable bronze medal performance at the ISSF Shotgun World Cup in Almaty, Kazakhstan, where the mixed trap duo of Neeru Dhanda and Vivaan Kapoor showcased grit and composure against some of the world’s top shooters. The Indian pair delivered a strong campaign throughout the competition and eventually secured a place on the podium after an intense final on Sunday.
Competing at the prestigious Asanov Shooting Club in Almaty, Dhanda and Kapoor shot 24 out of 30 in the medal round and remained tied with Italy’s Mauro De Filippis and Silvana Maria Stanco after the third series. However, the Indian duo had to settle for bronze because the Italian pair held a superior qualification score, which acted as the tie breaker under ISSF rules. Italy had topped qualification with 145, while the Indian team finished second with an impressive score of 143.
Despite narrowly missing a shot at silver or gold, the bronze medal carried significant importance for Indian shooting. It marked India’s first medal at a senior shotgun World Cup this season and also became Neeru Dhanda’s maiden ISSF World Cup medal at the senior level. Dhanda, who emerged as the women’s trap Asian champion last year, has steadily risen through the international ranks and once again demonstrated her ability to perform under pressure on the global stage.
Vivaan Kapoor too played a crucial role in India’s campaign. The young shooter had already shown promising form earlier in the competition by recording a perfect 25 in one of his qualification rounds during the men’s trap event. His consistency, combined with Dhanda’s composure, helped India remain among the leading contenders throughout the mixed team competition.
The ISSF Shotgun World Cup in Almaty has attracted elite shooters from across the globe, making India’s podium finish even more noteworthy. The event forms part of the 2026 ISSF World Cup circuit, which includes competitions across several countries before culminating in the World Cup Final later this year in Rome.
Dhanda entered the mixed team event with confidence after a commendable performance in the women’s trap category earlier in the week. Although she finished seventh in the individual final, her qualification score of 116 was a personal best in ISSF competitions. Her resilience and ability to recover from difficult situations earned praise from Indian shooting observers and strengthened expectations ahead of the mixed event.
The second Indian pair in the mixed trap competition, Ahvar Rizvi and Pragati Dubey, could not progress to the medal round. The duo registered a combined qualification score of 130 and finished 23rd overall. While they fell short of qualification, the event provided valuable international exposure against a highly competitive field.
India’s recent performances in shotgun shooting indicate a gradual resurgence in the discipline. Over the last few years, Indian rifle and pistol shooters have dominated international headlines, while shotgun events have witnessed comparatively fewer podium finishes. This medal in Almaty could provide a major confidence boost to the country’s shotgun contingent ahead of future World Cups and the build up toward the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics.
For Neeru Dhanda in particular, the bronze medal represents another important milestone in an already impressive career trajectory. Having won medals at the Asian level and now stepping onto a World Cup podium, the Haryana shooter continues to establish herself as one of India’s brightest trap shooting talents. Alongside Kapoor, she delivered a performance that not only earned India a medal but also signaled the growing depth and promise of Indian shotgun shooting on the international stage.
