India, Sept. 30 -- Eight years after watching her cousin Lakshay Sheoran win a silver medal at the Asian Games, Neeru Dhanda on Tuesday in Japan became the first Indian woman to win an individual Asian Games gold medal in trap shooting, setting a new Asian record with 28 hits out of 30 targets in the final.

The 26-year-old from Sangatpura village in Jind, Haryana, had already helped India win silver in the women's trap team event. She reached the individual final after finishing joint-top in qualification with 118 hits. China's Sun Yunong finished with 26 hits in the final, while Neeru led throughout, recording four perfect series.

Her journey began in 2019, when she switched from kabaddi to shooting after being inspired by Lakshay, who...