His Olympic medal aspiration blown away by the 'wind', Indian shooter Jitu Rai's Russian coach Smirnov Pavel today said efforts should be made to set up ranges in windy conditions in the mountain.
The coach has been employed with the Mhow-based Army Marksmanship Unit.
"We missed to qualify by a few points in the end but that's shooting," Pavel said as Rai failed to make the cut in the final of 50-metre pistol.
The 28-year-old finished 12th in the six-series qualifying after being placed fourth at the end of the fifth and penultimate series at the Olympic Shooting Centre. Rai aggregated 554.
The wind affected all the 41 shooters in the field and Pavel said, "We do not have shooting range in such windy conditions.
"For long ago, I've been asking to make a range in mountains where there's lot of winds but now I think the time has come. Our shooters should be ready to face the challenge," Pavel said.
Rai could not have agreed more.
"We don't have similar conditions back home. I had practised earlier here but that time there was not much of wind.
"The weather became bad since morning and there was a lot of wind and it was there inside the range also. The wind flow was not unilateral and it was difficult to take aim.
"I could not do whatever I had thought. I tried my best but those two shots of six (in the third seres) and seven (in the sixth and final series) cost me dear," Rai said.
Asked about his struggle to finish within the stipulated 90 minutes time frame, he said: "I don't think timing was a problem. There was no problem and I fired within the 90 minutes.
"I was not under pressure. I just wanted to get into the final by giving my best. Yes I'm sad but can't help I've to be happy and go on."
Currently ranked three in both 50-metre pistol and 10-metre air pistol, Rai has won two World Cup gold, three silver and one bronze. He has also won gold at Asian Games and Commonwealth Games.
"I gave my best and I am happy with my performance. I had prepared well. But I was not lucky maybe," he signed off.
