My 2018 - This is my Hobby: Playing Badminton

I can still remember those days when I together with my childhood friends, are genuinely happy hitting a piece of crumpled paper back and forth using our slipper. Dirt on the rough street and sweat in our bodies have been our true companion. I have always been jealous of the other children using their expensive rackets and shuttlecocks. But this jealousy inside fueled me to strive hard to attain the skills which I have now today.

Playing Badminton has always been my stress reliever. It is the thing I do whenever I am happy, sad, in good or in bad mood. Some would ask why would I keep playing this sport despite of a busy schedule, to be honest I do not really know what it has specifically. The only thing I am very sure of is that my heart feels so excited and contented.

I am not the typical sporty guy you would see in movies that has a perfect athletic body with developed biceps nor has six-packed abs. I am cute ( they say :D ) and do have an over weight. They somehow are amazed on how I could move so quickly when I have a body filled with hanging fats :D . For me, I consider this as my form of exercise which I am truly, a hundred percent willing to do so.

It has been 8 years since I started playing badminton. With a little bit of saving from my allowances, I bought my very first badminton racket at 300 pesos. I am almost in tears that time and would let my new racket sleep beside me at night. I did not have a proper training since I do not have anyone to teach me. Even though I do not have that fundamental skills yet, I joined our school intramurals for 4 consecutive years and just won the gold at my senior year :D .

Upon entering College, aside from looking forward for my new school (MSU-IIT) I also looked forward for badminton courts here in Iligan City. I was so happy to found out that there is an affordable badminton court which is in the public market of the city. With just 20 pesos as entrance fee, you could just play all day you want. Consequently, shuttlecocks are bit expensive costing 60 pesos each.

In this place I have met numerous skillful badminton players. I belittled myself at that time cause all them plays with proper footwork and proper strokes on hitting the shuttle. With my jaw drop and mouth wide, feeling amused, I entered the hall with no one but myself. I sitted patiently and waited several hours observing how playing in this place works. I was so overwhelmed when an old man approaches me and ask me if I wanted to play. Without any hesitations, I nodded and got ready to play. I am very nervous since it is my first time playing with pro players. My hands are shaking and full of sweat throughout the game. And ofcourse, I lose.

Every free time, I always grab the chance to go there and play. I have known many friends that also taught me the basics and helped me improved my game. But I made it sure that I wouldn’t set aside my studies for my hobby.

Everytime I played has been the time of learning new techniques and trivias on how to improve my game. Every game there were always be new players I can play with. Different approaches and different game type, it is really a challenge.

My first ever open tournament that I joined was the Christsmash Tournament, during the Christmas break of year 2016 and it was a test. It deliberates myself on how I have been improving and what I've learned so far. Though I've lost at the quarter finals I am still that happy for I have experienced another milestone.

"Palakasan" is one of the Mindanao State University - Iligan Institute of Technology most awaited events where colleges clash in special, literary, cultural and sports events. Every student in the university aims to join and represent their respective colleges in their desired field. All aspiring participants undergone series of auditions and tryouts. As sport enthusiast, I did not stopped to try my best and give it a shot even if I was declined twice during my sophomore and junior years. With my head raise high and a heart strong, I tried my third attempt and atlast I WAS CHOSEN!

With my surname imprinted at my jersey, I felt so honored to represent our College of Engineering and Technology and be a member of its badminton team. It really needs so much strength to face several optimistic and skillful opponents. I just prayed to God and promised to do my best. Win or lose as long as I could give a good fight would be enough. After three hectic game days, our team just got the gold and was announced Champions! My heart does filled with gratitude and thankfulness.

Right now I can’t still consider myself yet as the best badminton player I can be. I know that I still have to improve more and gain numerous experiences. As this is a God given talent, I am sharing this to my friends, my fellow steemitians @barbiee , @athan , @badet , @wildthoughts , @leih the enjoyable feeling of doing this kind sport.

For me, it is very important first to know what you really love to do. Things that would not make you feel tired of doing every now and then. This could help us find people who have the same wavelength with ours. They are the people in your life that you have connection with. I have learned that when you find your comfort place, you can feel the warmth of genuine happiness. The embrace of the feeling of being belong. Though doing this hobby is quite hard and time consuming, I will never forget my priority and that is to get my degree, find a stable job and help my family in return.

Playing the sport badminton will forever be having a huge space in my heart. It will always and forever will be a part of being me as a person that my friends and family known me for. Until I grow old, can still run and execute properly. I will stay and continue playing what I love, and it is sport called Badminton!

Thank You for Hearing Me Out! God Bless!