Lebanon's Ray Bassil sees ray of hope in sports

NEW DELHI: Ray Bassil loves to be at the Karni Singh ranges in Delhi. She had won her first World Cup Finals medal, a bronze, at the same venue in 2017. Since then, she has won many World Cup medals, and she loves the city.
However, the four-time Olympian says she isn't enjoying her time here now as her thoughts are with her family back in Lebanon. Trap shooter Ray, 35, who is participating at the ISSF World Cup Finals here, said coming here wasn't easy.
"I feel like home in this country (India) as I have come here before. But it has been hard coming here this time after leaving my family in a tough situation back home. It's hard given the situation we are in. I didn't shoot after the Paris Games. To be honest, we are mentally tired," Ray told TOI, referring to the war-like situation in Lebanon after Israel's attacks on Hezbollah.

The veteran shooter feels sports is needed more than ever during such times. "With all this happening, I really wanted to make sure to come over and participate, because I think Lebanon needs this. So, whatever I'll be doing here is going to be for my country. This is only boost or energy you can give to the nation during such difficult times. This thought pushed me to come over. Otherwise, maybe I would have stayed home with my family," she said She said it isn't easy not to think about the situation back home. "At this stage I am trying to stay a bit away, but I know it's not easy because you get to see things on social media, on WhatsApp. But I understood that it is a situation that I cannot control and that you really have to let go of things that you cannot control in life," Ray, who has participated in all Olympics since 2012, said.
She is unhappy with the situation but isn't bitter. Unlike the Ukraine shooters, who withdrew from tournaments where Russian players participated, Ray doesn't mind participating in the tournament with Israeli shooters. There are none in the World Cup Finals here.
"For me, it's not about the athletes, because I believe that we are both facing the same feelings. Maybe deep inside we're looking for peace for sure. Unfortunately, we have bigger constraints like the government forbids us to take part in any competition if there is any presence of such an athlete (from Israel). And I think it's the same for Ukraine or Russia or any other country which is facing war. I believe it is our right to participate regardless of politics. We are athletes, we are here to represent our country. So we have to respect each other, no matter what. This is what the Olympics system - peace and respect for others and keeping politics away - teaches us."
She added: "I think only athletes get the opportunity to spread peace because they can go out and meet people. Today when I came here I saw everyone caring for each other, no matter what religion is."