The gold medal at the Asian Games for Niru Danda is not just an award, but the result of overcoming illness, coping with difficult circumstances, and maintaining concentration until the last shot. This 26-year-old shooter from Jind, Haryana, won gold in the women's trap event by hitting 30 out of 28 targets on Tuesday.
Naib Subedar of the Indian Army demonstrated outstanding composure despite rain on the shooting range and dropping temperatures. In the final, she secured the victory by scoring 28 points, while Ms. Sun Yunjung from China scored 26 points, and Abdulmalik Hajer from Kuwait finished behind with a score of 21 points.
However, just 10 days before this golden achievement, Niru was hospitalized. She was diagnosed with severe flu in Bhopal and admitted to the hospital. The illness was so serious that she couldn't eat for five days. There was also speculation about possible H1N1 infection.
In such a situation, questions arose regarding her participation in the Asian Games and her form. However, Niru's personal coach and former international shooter Mansher Singh advised her to forget about the illness and focus solely on the target. Niru followed this advice, stating after her victory: 'Mansher sir just told me to forget what happened and focus on the target. I did exactly that.'
The weather on Tuesday also did not facilitate easy shooting. Constant rain and poor visibility made it difficult to track the flying targets, and the temperature was dropping. Nevertheless, Niru's accuracy remained unshaken. In the first four rounds of qualification, she hit 95 out of 100 targets, which gave her an advantage. In the fifth round, she scored 23 points, reaching a total of 118 points, which placed her level with Basil Ray from Qatar and secured her a spot in the final among eight shooters.
The real test began after the qualification. As the competition progressed, the impact of the difficult weather became noticeable among other participants. But Niru maintained her rhythm. Before the last five shots, she had a two-point lead over Sun Yunjung from China. At that moment, Niru received a yellow card. The decision sparked some debate for a while, but ultimately worked in her favor. After returning, Niru once again demonstrated complete concentration, hitting all the last five targets.
As soon as the last target was hit, celebrations broke out in the Indian camp. India's British coach and Olympic champion Peter Wilson hugged Niru in the colors of the tricolor. Niru herself looked very calm, as if understanding that the story was not yet over. Earlier that day, Niru played a key role in India securing the silver medal in the team event. India's total score was 328 points, thanks to the results of Niru (118), Ashima Ahalawat (106), and Manishi Kir (104). China won gold with a score of 346, and Kuwait took bronze with 325 points.
However, the most significant moment of the day for Niru was the individual final. She became the first Indian woman to win an individual medal at the Asian Games in women's trap, and the first shooter to win individual gold in shooting at these Games.
Niru's journey began in 2017 when she enrolled in the Shooting Academy in Central India. She was inspired by her cousin and Shalya Shoran, who won silver in men's trap at the 2018 Asian Games. After that, Niru never looked back. Recently, she also won gold in trap at the ISSF World Championships in Lonato, Italy, becoming the first Indian woman to win individual gold at the ISSF World Championships in this discipline. Now, her achievements are supplemented by the Asian Games gold.
Niru dedicated this historic victory to the soldiers of the Indian Army. She emphasized that her success is insignificant compared to the defense of the country on the border. She also remembered Randhir Singh, who brought India its first trap gold at the Asian Games in Bangkok in 1978. Niru shared that Randhir Singh always spoke warmly with her and gave her advice, and now she has continued this tradition.
Nevertheless, Niru is not stopping at her achievements; her goal is the Olympics. Niru Danda, who went from a hospital bed in Bhopal to the Asian Games podium, has shown that sometimes the most important goal is not the target in front of you, but overcoming your own difficulties.
