I took part in an interschool badminton tournament, hosted by Fountainhead School itself, where i was a part of the school team and we participated in the Under-17 Girls Team event Category. This tournament was an exciting opportunity to compete against skilled players from various schools while working together as a team. Unlike individual matches, the team event required strategic planning, coordination, and collective effort to secure us wins in each match played. The competition tested not only my game skills but also my ability to work collaboratively and hence contribute to the overall success of our team which led us to secure the 2nd place in the tournament.

LO2: Demonstrate That Challenges Have Been Undertaken and Developing New Skills

Unlike individual matches which usually take place in this sport, this tournament required me to perform not just for myself but rather for the entire team. As the tournament was organised on rules of knockouts, we had to win every match to get till the finals. Before the tournament i struggled to maintain a non-verbal communication with my doubles partner during any ongoing matches which would lead us to give in points to the opponents. To overcome this, I trained with my partner specifically during the schools PS slots to improve our communication gaps to make the most of our game. Another challenge was adjusting to the tournament’s format, where i had to quickly recover from my first singles match and then rapidly switch to the doubles play right after. Despite these obstacles, I pushed myself to adapt and stay determined to recover as fast as possible which ultimately strengthened our teams progressive stand in the tournament.

LO4: Show Perseverance and Commitment in CAS Experience

Preparing for this team tournament required dedication and long hours of training, often balancing schoolwork and personal commitments. Our team practiced in the camp which would happen during after-schools hours, ensuring that we worked on both individual techniques and team coordination. There were moments of i felt exhausted when juggling my academics and training, but with my teammates giving in the same amount of commitment and time, it motivated me to stay committed as well. On tournament day, our team faced physically demanding matches, and I had to rely on my training to sustain energy levels and play my best until the very end. This experience built a belief inside me that perseverance is key in sports, and true commitment means showing up and giving your best effort, no matter how demanding the matches get.

LO5: Demonstrate Skills and Benefits of Working Collaboratively

This tournament required me to work closely with my teammates, whether it was strategizing for doubles matches or supporting each other from the sidelines. One of the key aspects we focused on was understanding each player’s strengths and assigning match lineups accordingly. In doubles, my partner and I had to develop trust and clear communication—calling shots, covering for each other, and coordinating our footwork. Initially, we struggled with positioning, sometimes moving to the same side of the court or hesitating on crucial shots. However, through constant practice and discussions, we learned to read each other’s gameplay and anticipate movements. Beyond the matches, we encouraged each other, provided feedback, and kept morale high, which helped us stay motivated throughout the tournament. This experience showed me the importance of teamwork.

LO7: Recognise and Consider the Ethics of Choices and Actions

During the tournament, there were some teams who would choose to play and agressive gameplay against us and the others a defensive one. Despite having encountered some heated matches, where both the opponents team and ours didn’t agree on a leveled ground regarding the points, we, as a team ensured that we respected the rules of the game and upheld the ultimate decision of the referee on the scores. Additionally, I observed how some teams would deliberately distract us by delaying the serves to disrupt our focus.These experiences made me realise that success in sports is not just about winning but about playing with integrity and fairness.

Playing in the interschool badminton tournament as part of the Under-17 Girls Team challenged me to improve my game, work closely with my teammates, and stay committed under pressure. It was a tough but rewarding experience that pushed me to grow both individually and as a team player.