Adding a golden chapter to Indian sporting history, trap shooter Kynan Darius Chenai brought immense pride to the nation and the Parsi community, teaming up with Neeru Dhanda, to clinch a Gold medal in the Trap Mixed Team event, at the 2026 Asian Games, held in Aichi-Nagoya, Japan, on 30^th September, 2026. The pair produced a superb final score of 34 out of 40, setting a new Asian Record and making history by securing India’s first-ever Asian Games Gold in the event.

The triumph added another glittering chapter to 35-year-old Kynan’s distinguished shooting career. A specialist in trap shooting, he represented India at the 2016 Rio Olympics, and was also part of the Indian men’s trap team that struck Gold at the 2021 ISSF World Cup in New Delhi. He now boasts three Asian Games medals, having earlier won Men’s Trap Team Gold and an Individual Bronze at the Hangzhou Asian Games.

Born in Hyderabad, Kynan grew up surrounded by sport. At Hebron School, Ooty, he excelled in freestyle swimming and played competitive hockey and football. Shooting, however, ran in the family. His father, Darius Chenai, a two-time National Trap Champion, introduced him to the sport at around ten and initially coached him. Father and son even competed against each other at the 2007 Nationals in Jaipur.

Recognising his potential, Darius later entrusted Kynan’s training to four-time Olympian Mansher ‘Joey’ Singh, who played an important role in refining his technique. Kynan subsequently underwent specialised training in Italy, including under Italian coach Marcello Dradi. More recently, he trained with 2008 Olympic champion David Kostelecky of the Czech Republic, while Olympic champion and India’s foreign coach Peter Wilson worked with him on technique and gun-stock adjustments.

Interestingly, Kynan’s Asian Games Gold came with a special piece of family history. He competed using an old gun barrel belonging to his father, with which Darius had himself won two national titles. Kynan switched to the barrel last year and now considers it his “lucky charm”.

The shooting legacy extends to Kynan’s marital family. He is married to Ria Rajeshwari Kumari, daughter of late trap-shooting champion Randhir Singh, who won Asian Games Gold in 1978 and whose advice to Kynan emphasised keeping things simple and returning to the basics.

His latest Asian Games triumph, achieved alongside Neeru Dhanda after the pair qualified fourth before producing a record-breaking final, was a fitting display of years of discipline, training, perseverance and composure under pressure.

Parsi Times heartily congratulates Kynan Chenai on this golden achievement, which has brought glory to India and tremendous pride to the Parsi community. From carrying forward a remarkable sporting legacy to creating one of his own, may Kynan continue taking aim at greater heights and keep hitting the bullseye of success!