After picking up Andy, we took about 5 minutes to reach the tournament venue. There were some players already warming up and getting ready. Meanwhile, i was chatting with my bunch of friends and laughing around. Hehe.
I waited for my turn, did some stretching and then had some strokes with my friend. My match was being announced and there i go. I went over to the court where the match will be held.
I stroked with my opponent, trying to read his strokes and his ability. He seems good to me, quite equal. Then, the match begins. It was a 30 point 1 game for the first round, so it's a fast kill game i have to play.
My opponent chose the court and i took the service. The match begins and i served the shuttle. My opponent scored the first point. After the first point, i took the initiative to win more points and i did managed to do so, leading 8-5. My confidence grew and i was able to play and give out the game i usually play, and managed to get some cheap points from his mistake. The game then went into the interval, with me leading 15-10.
During the interval, i stood there wiping my sweat with my towel, telling myself, "I can do it! Just maintain the game like this."
After the interval, the game continued. I was playing the usual game of mine, but my opponent did manage to score some points too. The game went on and the score was 25-20, with me leading ahead of him.
All of a sudden, my concentration and focus lapsed. My mind kept telling me to find "shortcuts" in the game, and i kept trying. My mistakes and flaws appeared. My opponent took advantage of that and caught up with me. Eventually, he came back level and the score was 25-25.
My heart starts to beat faster, i felt pressured when he caught up. Then i took back a point, leading 26-25, but it didn't boost my confidence. Instead, my opponent became more confident, add in more attacks and he came back 28-26, taking the lead.
I took all kinds of ways to try to take back the lead, fighting hard, reaching out for every shot he place and trying to create an opportunity. Fortunately, i got back a few points and the score was 28-28. I stood still, holding the shuttlecock in my hand, trying to change the fate of mine, but then i made a simple mistake and there goes my 1 point to him, allowing him to lead 29-28.
It was the crucial moment of the match. I tried to hang on there, and thought of doing an overhead smash to get back the point. My opponent hold the shuttlecock, he gave a high service and immediately i reversed backwards quickly and jump! My hands swing quickly and contacted with the shuttle.
My smash didn't make it, it hit the net. The moment i saw my smash went into the net, i looked up at the ceiling of the hall, and looked at my opponent. My opponent stared at me and yelled out loudly at me and i went over and shook his hands. Just 2 points the difference, but it made a huge difference.
So close yet so far...some didn't have to work hard and they managed to get into the semi finals, while i trained so hard, putting every drop of my sweat into training, but ended up bowing out in the early rounds.
It's just so denying....
If i managed to get into the semi finals, then things will probably different...
