Cats who teach me to fly…

I went to the finals for the badminton community games last night. Fought my last match. Just as I have expected, only Whampoa Team  B men’s singles won the match. My team had swopped a men’s double player to play men’s singles as he was capable of playing singles this round against Team A. If he were to play men’s double, we would have lost all the matches. If one has the potential to win a match, swopping players is a sensible and intelligent strategy to me. It is correct better to win one match than to lose two matches. But for my case where I was swopped to play a game where I had no chance to win, I now feel  it was completely stupid and deliberate on the part of my so-called coach. I somehow feel…. funny.

I gave my best. We had a rubber match. I was not disappointed, angry or sad. Even if I did not lose to them yesterday, sooner or later, I’d still lose to someone else as I was forced to play net. Team A played naturally. Nobody was pressurised. The lady player was free to play a “normal” doubles game.  This is the way I think games should be played. They have trust between each other which is very important in a match. I admire them for that. Admire them for they have respect and trust for each other.

Whampoa Team A had thrashed Whampoa Team B badly. The level of skill between the two groups was a huge gap.

I just received a text from our “coach”. He thanked us and said he was proud and happy. Of course he is happy. Still… Intelligently plotted. I am glad too that Whampoa has a chance to move on to the next competition which is in September.

I had done what a teammate should do – to finish the entire game and to support my team. I left only when all the matches had ended. I didn’t receive my medal as I was not there for that. I was there for the team. Everything has come to an end, finally and I am out from the team.

It’s another new beginning for me. All is history. I went for a game this morning, feeling refreshed. It was all over. I will not be pressurised to only play net. I am free to roam round the whole court playing a proper mixed doubles game. I had a great game this morning and I’ll be playing a lot in future. Just like Mr Lee said, “As long as I am still walking with both of my legs, I am still able to contribute.”

I look forward to participate again in the competition in 2014. This time, I will represent Sembawang :p.