Mary Grace Tan: shooting it out with the guys

Katherine Visconti

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In the sport of shooting, men typically dominate the competition. But that's changing, and one Filipina is calling the shots

MANILA, Philippines – Mary ‘Grace’ Tan doesn’t always tell new guys she meets what she does. She says she doesn’t want to scare them away.

Tan is one of the top shooters in the Philippines and among the top female shooters in the world.

She’s used to beating men in local competitions.

How do the men respond when you beat them?
KATHERINE VISCONTI
RAPPLER REPORTER

They really admire you know but you can feel the guys always threatened when you’re around. They watch you.
MARY GRACE TAN
PROFESSIONAL SHOOTER

Even if some male shooters seem threatened initially, they say they are proud of her when she wins medals internationally.

In 2007, the ace shooter bested the reigning female world champion from Austria in the International European Hand Gun Championship.

Especially if they compete outside and go out of the country, it’s prestige.
RYAN REMIGIO
VP OF EXTERNAL COMMUNICATIONS, MARCOS COMBAT SHOOTERS

At 5′ 3”, the 36-year-old says she’s not the strongest nor the fastest on the shooting range.

But she makes up for these disadvantages with fluid motions that let her quickly move around the course with precision.

Looking around its not hard to see this a sport dominated by men. But there are several promising women like Grace Tan who are making their mark.

Representatives of the Philippine Practical Shooting Association says about 6% of its active members are women.

But the group says more women are taking up the sport every year.

What would you tell other women who are thinking of taking up the sport but may worry they are entering a man’s world?
KATHERINE VISCONTI
RAPPLER REPORTER

Don’t be scared. It’s nice to enter into a man’s world and you excel.
MARY GRACE TAN
PROFESSIONAL SHOOTER

She says for shooters of any gender, success boils down to hard work.

Within yourself if you really want to excel, you really want to learn something, you focus, you go into it. For me, I don’t go out much. I know if I have a practice the next day, I sleep early, exercise, train well. The discipline is there.  
MARY GRACE TAN
PROFESSIONAL SHOOTER

In-between training, Tan helps manage her family’s gun store.

She’s come a long way tagging along with her dad, carrying his equipment.

She plans to compete in more international competitions where she can make a name as a Filipino female shooter.

Katherine Visconti, Rappler, Manila. – Rappler.com (Videography by Charles Salazar)

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