I took up table tennis as a CAS experience because I wanted to improve my game and become a more balanced player with good offence and defence. For this I had to become more patient and analyse my opponent’s game to figure out any kind of weakness which I could have used to counter my opponent. This sport allowed me to achieve quick reflex actions, strategic thinking, and precision. It also improves eye-to-hand coordination, agility and mental focus, as we not just need to watch the ball but also see the movement of our opponent’s racket and predict the possible position and spin of the ball. Over the course of the past year I have been able to drastically improve my game and reflexes. I have been able to identify weaknesses and strengths and change my gameplay accordingly for an easier win.

LO1 – Identify own strengths and develop areas for growth.

Over the past year, I engaged in table tennis as part of my activity component in CAS. This journey helped me to understand my strengths and weaknesses and develop them to not just become a better player but also to develop mentally and physically. I noticed that I had good hand-eye coordination and quick reflexes, which gave me an advantage in fast-paced rallies. I also had a strong backhand defence, which became one of my key strengths. However, as I played against more skilled opponents, I realised that my forehand shots, defence and footwork were areas that needed significant improvement. This was because I was always a fast-paced player focusing more on smashes and playing aggressively, but to improve my game, I needed to also have a strong defence just so I can play good rallies against more skilled players than me. To improve my defence I started to just play against more skilled players and stopped hitting smashes but encouraged them to play aggressively just so I can practise my defence. I also watch several YouTube videos by pro players to understand how to effectively improve defence and how to have a much more balanced gameplay. It allowed me to improve my gameplay and become a more balanced and patient player who strikes at the right time. There were moments of frustration when I lost matches despite putting in effort, but I learnt to view setbacks as opportunities for growth rather than failures. This shift in mindset has helped me in other areas of my academic and personal life as well.

LO4 – Show perseverance and commitment in CAS experience.

Staying committed to table tennis for almost an entire year required perseverance. This is because there were many times when it was diffcult to manage time due to high acadamic work and other CAS experience. However, I made sure to prioritize regular practice and push through challenges, even when progress felt slow. The biggest test of my perseverance and commitment was when I was not able to improve my defence. Weeks went by but still I was not able to improve my defence by even a slight bit despite how much efforts I put into the practise. Instead of giving up, I reassessed my training methods, sought guidance from my coach, and set small, achievable goals to stay motivated. This experience taught me the value of persistence and discipline, qualities that are essential not just in sports but in all aspects of life.