I have always loved playing badminton since my childhood and have been training myself in the same since 5th grade. Every year i would take part in the Khel Mahakumbh Badminton Tournament under various progressive age categories, starting from playing in the Under – 11 Girls singles category to playing for the Under – 17 Girls singles category this time. I trained rigorously and religiously to improve my game strategy, identify my weaknesses and capitalize on my strengths. By being regular in my practice, i improved my footwork, agility and court rafting skills which helped me secure the 2nd position in the Surat District Rural, building on my performance from last year, where I also finished second in the Valsad district. The journey to get here has been one of growth, perseverance, and constant self-improvement.

LO1: Identifying Own Strengths and Areas for Growth

Over the time, i’ve been working consistently on my attacking skills like improving my smashes and taps to gain a point quickly in the match. However, when i entered into the U-17 category, i realised my defensive skills along with working on my footwork needed quite some attention and determination. During training i would struggle with backhand swings and clears, which would often lead to unforced errors. My coach helped me identify my weakness and assisted me to work on it. Along with that i would struggle to maintain long rallies and would see myself eager and rushing to get points. Acknowledging this area for growth, i then dedicated extra time to analyse professional badminton games of international players as well as that of my fellow players on court. By focusing on my weaker areas while capitalizing on my strengths, I was able to refine my overall performance. This self-awareness and willingness to grow played a significant role in securing the 2nd place in the district tournament.

LO2: Demonstrate that challenges have been undertaken, developing new skills

“Unlike previous years, your competition in the Under-17 category would much tougher, requiring greater speed, precision, and endurance than what you posses now” – is what was told to me by my seniors in the game. At first, i was kind of unsure and intimidated of what new challenges would be in front of me on the tournament day and whether i was ready for the tournament at all. That’s when the idea of taking this whole thing as a challenge struck me.
I built my mindset to stay confident and not let pressure affect my performance. On tournament day, despite initial nerves, I adapted to the fast-paced rallies and held my ground against skilled competitors. Though it was demanding, the experience helped me develop resilience, adaptability, and a newfound confidence in my abilities, summing that challenges are opportunities for growth.

LO4: Show perseverance and commitment in CAS experience.
My PS slot practices played a crucial role in preparing me for the tournament. Some of my days would get exhausting as i had my academic classes and ps slots along the day yet i gave my best on remaining committed to attending every session. My coach constantly pushed me to refine my techniques, whether it was improving my footwork, perfecting drop shots, or maintaining better control at the net. I repeatedly practiced the same strokes until I got them right. Even when I made mistakes, I viewed them as learning opportunities rather than setbacks. Over time, I saw improvements in my game, which reinforced my belief in consistent effort. On tournament day, all the hard work paid off, proving that it was commitment and discipline all along which lead to the success.

Concluding with what i learned, that success in sports isn’t just about skill, it’s also about consistency, resilience, and learning from your mistakes. Securing second place felt like proof that all the effort was worth it. But more than the position held, the experience, the challenges, and the lessons are what will stay with me.