I May Have Lost, But I’m Still a Champion

This past weekend held a special significance for me.

I had the opportunity to represent my team in an office tennis tournament held in Frankfurt for two days.

Now, I’m not a tennis pro, but here’s a brief overview of how I began to get the hang of wielding my tennis racket.

Tough Battleground

Indeed, it was quite a challenging tournament.

There were a total of 98 participants from all corners of Germany. One positive aspect of the tournament was that we were categorized based on our tennis skill levels.

Since I had only started playing tennis two months prior, it was obvious that I would be placed in the Bronze category (for amateurs).

I had to compete against 23 other players in the Bronze category to vie for the title.

Qualified to Semi-finals

I participated in three league games.

Despite being an amateur, my connection to the game runs deep, having watched it for over 20 years. It feels like it’s in my blood. I approached the sport with immense passion and dedication when I first picked up the racket a couple of months ago.

I emerged victorious in two out of my three league games.

In fact, I dominated my opponent in the second game, securing a resounding victory with a score of 27–4. Although I tied with a few players, they tallied the overall points scored, and thanks to my significant win in the second game, I advanced to the semifinals.

I was absolutely thrilled! Words couldn’t capture the joy I felt or how peacefully I slept that night.

Knockout Day — I Lost

Today is the big day.

I only need to win two games to claim the bronze winner’s title. Then, the unexpected happened. I had a terrible game, making numerous errors.

It wasn’t due to pressure; rather, I believe it was because I needed more practice. I relied heavily on hitting powerful shots, but unfortunately, they often ended up out of bounds.

By the time I managed to regroup and correct my mistakes, it was too late. I lost with a score of 14–19.

It’s painful.

I won

I secured the 4th position out of 24 participants.

Considering I only started playing tennis 65 days ago and hit my first shot, finishing 4th out of 24 is quite a respectable achievement, I’d say.

Sure, I recognize the need for more practice, more game time, and more tournament experience.

However, having said that, I still feel like a champion.

It’s something I always remind myself of.

I’ve set remarkably high standards for myself. Unless someone truly knocks me down, I refuse to give up without a fight.

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Cheers — KS !!