Chitkara University shooter Nancy Mandhotra gets top Asia ranking

Local shooter Nancy Mandhotra has attained top rank in the recently announced Asian Rankings 2024 for women’s 10m air rifle event. The 20-year-old shooter is a student of Chitkara University and pursuing Bachelors of Business Administration (BBA). The Asian Shooting Confederation (ASC) released the rankings recently.

Hailing from Kurukshetra in Haryana, Nancy took to shooting on the recommendation of her family at the age of 11.

In April this year, she defeated the World Championship silver medallist Mehuli Ghosh by 0.7 points for the top spot, while former World No.1 Elavenil Valarivan took the third place in the Olympic shooting trials held at Dr Karni Singh Range, Tughlakabad, Delhi. Earlier in January, she won the women’s air rifle gold by beating compatriot Elavenil by 0.1 point in the Asian Shooting Championship in Jakarta, Indonesia.

“I am very happy for attaining the No 1 position in the latest rankings. This year, I have been moving in the right direction to achieve my aim. Unlike other shooters, my aim is not only restricted to representing the country in the Olympics but also to win medals,” said Nancy.

She is ranked 16th in the World Rankings with two (gold and bronze) World Championships medals, one World Cup silver and one Asian Championship gold. This year, she finished 4th in the Cairo World Cup and 20th in Granada during the individual events.

The gold medal finish in the Jakarta Asian Championships earned her the top ranking.

"I congratulate her on attaining the top ranking. It's a proud moment for us. Last year, Nancy Mandhotra displayed excellent form during the qualification round with a score of 633.1 points. However, she missed a medal by a slim margin of 0.2 points. She never lost her track and made a stunning comeback. This shows her willpower," said Dr Madhu Chitkara, Pro Chancellor, Chitkara University.

Nancy said: "I will be participating in some important events in the five months. I will try to retain the rankings during this period. Indian shooting has seen a very positive change and competitive development. It's not easy to hold the fort, but I am there to stay long."