Michelle AnnKapal!!:)

With my partner, Sir Vince.

I grew up liking table tennis or pingpong. My neighbors and I played the game and my Koyang Miller used to be a varsity player. Let me say though that I just played it for fun.There was no serious and regular training on the sports. All I know is how to handle the paddle, serve the small round white ball and return the ball to the opponent's court, all these without fancy. Never did I play for any tournament
in the sport field, be it badminton nor swimming.

Now at 36 years old, I joined my first-ever competition. It's the Uni-A Employees's Games in our university and I belong to the Gold team. The event brought me panic and anxiety really right after I was measured for my uniform. Napasubo lang ako!!I hid in my office because I really didn't wanna push thru with the games anymore but my teammate found me. And so I had no choice as there are only 2 women players in our team. May I say that there's no total practice prior the actual games.I had to tag a student to play with me for 30 minutes in the morning just so to have even a slightest feel of the racket and table. I asked God to give me even only a single point for score.:)

The results? I lost the singles game, my gosh, how can I win against a veteran varsity player? Tita Flor (my teammate) and I won the doubles and Sir Vince and I lost the 5-set mixed doubles. In the end, us employees simply enjoyed the games.There was no pressure at all. I wish though that the next time I write my name on the invitational list of prayers, I will be an improved and better player.:)

(Photo courtesy of Tei Castillo)