"We did whatever we could" - Arjun Babuta and Ramita are disappointed yet gracious in defeat
The first day of the shooting events at Paris Olympics yielded mixed returns for India, as the likes of Arjun Babuta and Ramita underwhelmed. Manu Bhaker dazzled in the qualification round, finishing third and securing a spot in the finals, but it wasn't the case for the other shooters in action.
The duo of Ramita and Arjun Babuta competed in the 10m Air Rifle Mixed Team event. They finished sixth with a total of 628.7 points falling one point short of Germany's Janssen and Ulbrich, who finished fourth and qualified for the bronze medal match.
Speaking to the media at the mixed zone after their event, the duo said that they were gutted to miss out on the qualification but were gratified by giving their best.
"I did not leave my lane until I knew what I was feeling. I did my best so I felt great," said Arjun.
"Looking at the scoreboard (at the end, you) definitely feel disheartened that you missed it by a small margin. Today was not out best for sure score wise, but there was no lack of effort."
Ramita echoed similar sentiments.
"I was not looking at the score," said Ramita. "I was doing my best and (trying to) stay in the moment and do all I could. I was just focusing on the process."
"Both of us, we did whatever we could. We strategised everything and we followed our routine, we followed our process," Babuta added.
He asserted that guaging the score during the shots would not have made a difference to the final outcome.
"I didn’t know at what position we were. So, doesnt make any difference," he said. "If I came back and I knew that I was fourth and we were going to the final, I would be happy, I think. (But,) we have to accept it."
While the disappointment in his voice was palpable, Arjun Babuta also exuded equinamity. He accepted the setback graciously and didn't look to make any excuses:
"I think it is the same lane, same target, same me, same rifle. So, I have to just stay in the lane and stay in my area and zone. I don’t think about anything else at that time."
"We have to leave behind what happened today" - Arjun Babuta and Ramita shifts attention to individual competition
After the disappointment in the mixed event, Ramita and Arjun Babuta will shift their focus to the single's competition.
"We missed it by a slight margin, but we have individual matches to look forward to. So, I am looking forward to that now," Arjun enunciated.
Alongside Arjun Babuta, Sandeep Singh of India will also be in action in the men's individual competition. Meanwhile, the women's event will feature India's Elavenil Valarivan as well apart from Ramita.
"We have a peer meeting in the evening. We have to leave behind whatever happened today, good or bad. We have to move on and look for tomorrow," Arjun said. "We will do whatever we can, and we have plans for that. We would do our best."
The qualifying round of the men's as well as the women's 10m Air Rifle competition will take place on July 28 at the Chateaurox Shooting Centre.