The Harbours from Before: KFC extravaganza

Despite being distracted somewhere since March that Sec 3 year, I still emerged first runners-up in most of the U16G tournaments, coming behind Huishan who was one year my senior. In the September leg which she did not play due to her ‘O’ levels, I was crowned the U16G champion. On that same day, I also beat Weiting, who was 2 years my senior, to win the Ladies ‘E’ Grade in the Graded Tournament.

But sadly, that was the last age group tournament that I ever won for the rest of my life.

The rest was starting to close the gap given my impeded progress and I graciously enabled their ‘breakthrough’ by committing the silliest mistake the following year …

The first age group tournament in the new year saw myself being seeded No 1 in the U16G draw. As usual, the tournament was held during the later part of the March school holidays. We had 2 matches that fateful day, with the later one being the quarterfinals. We should all have easy matches that morning and I guess the final eight were myself, Chinwee, Janice (MGS), Vicki (MGS), Nur (TKGS), Weiwei, Minmin and maybe Yanjun. Pure deduction here of course.

So after that morning game, we all packed our bags and headed towards KFC for lunch. There was a family meal promotion! We gouged ourselves silly on fried chicken and I had mine with generous helpings of chilli. As usual, we were joking around and having our fun. Little thought went into the afternoon match.

I thought mine would be an easy game. After all I had thrashed Nur every time we met previously. The last time we played could have been early that year for some selections where I won 27-5: 9-0, 9-0, 9-5. (I am really testing my memory here.)

But no, how wrong I was. She had improved quite substantially since the last time we met. I won the first two sets relatively easy and suddenly in the third, my tummy acted up. I felt a burning sensation and my limbs went cold. I panicked and lost focus. I started making mistakes and allowed her to take control of the game. I had to run more than I should have and the chilli made a greater show of its prowess. I lost the third set and I went out of the court totally exhausted and scared. Ansari probably would have given me his stern look, told me not to look like a wimp and go back in to finish off the match. I cannot remember whether the match ended in four sets or went to five. I probably struggled hard but eventually, I did win that match. I was pretty shaken though.

Of course, I got scolded for not knowing better and having fried chicken so close to my match. How could I not know that the body would give priority to digesting the protein chucks in my stomach rather than fuelling my legs with energy? Oh well, the foolishness of youth.

The next morning was the semi-finals with Vicki. I went into court with a sore body and a wavering spirit. I probably won the first set and lost the next two when the effects from the previous match kicked in. The tiredness, the fear, the anxiety, the lack of focus and everything that was building up over the past year.

In the fourth set, I was trailing 0-8. I suppose I had that fight and pride that picked me up for that final moment. Pulled myself together and clawed back point by point. It was a tough going and after many rallies, I got to 8-8. The pressure was immense. It was a close fight to the finish but I did not manage to turn the table around. I would have got her if I had come back to win that set from 0-8 down. But that day she walked off the court as the winner. Final score was more likely to be 8-10. I am not sure.

That was the first time she beat me.

I gave a walkover for the 3rd/4th position playoff that afternoon. I could not find the strength to play anymore. Janice won that tournament and Vicki was second. My spirit was broken. Coming in fourth for a tournament I was expected to win.

I was not the same player ever since.

I never beat Vicki after that. That bad experience haunted me and every time I played her, I hit mental blocks. As for Nur, I held up against her for sometime before I eventually crumpled as well, brought down again due to mental issues. And against Janice, I have probably won more matches than I lost for the times we played.

I kept away from KFC, from fast food for the longest time.