New Delhi:
Australia's Nick D'Arcy, who missed the last Olympics and World Championships after an assault conviction, put on a brave face Monday after just missing out on the Commonwealth Games 200m butterfly final.
"It's pretty tough," he told reporters after coming ninth overall in the four-length race in 1:58.48, six hundredths of a second off a place in the eight-man final.
"I didn't go as well as I wanted. I've worked hard for this. It's a big international event so it hurts but there are bigger and better things in the coming years," the 23-year-old Queenslander said.
"I'm disappointed, but I wish all the boys the best and will be cheering them on tonight and for the rest of the Games."
World number two D'Arcy, who was banned from the Australia team in Beijing and Rome after the assault, was a favourite for the 200m fly title in New Delhi after coming second to US legend Michael Phelps in the recent Pan Pacifics.
Canada's Stefan Hirniak leads the field for the final on Monday afternoon, with little to separate the second- and third-placed swimmers, Sebastien Rousseau of South Africa and Australia's Chris Wright.