Tuesday 5 March marked a rather significant milestone for our school as we embarked on our first day at the prestigious ISSFHK badminton tournament in the Silver Division. Departing school promptly at 3:15pm we made our way to Malvern College (MCHK), located amidst the breathtaking landscapes of Tai Po in the New Territories. 

As we stepped foot into the school’s grounds upon arrival, we found ourselves in a slow lift as we ascended to the Sports Hall. As we stepped into the Sports Hall, we first noticed that the ceiling was noticeably higher than our school’s humble auditorium. The spacious Sports Hall boasted four well-maintained courts. We couldn’t help but notice a subtle slipperiness towards the sides. During Warm-up time, we also noticed the formidable strength of the opponents. 

Our first match was a singles match with 21 points, and there was a rule that we had to change sides after one side acquired 11 points. We lost by a few mere points with Edwin Guan making some spectacular defences and smashes. We couldn’t help but notice how strong the opponent’s singles player was. We also had a really close doubles match by just a 2-point loss. 

However, we were able to secure victories in the last two doubles games against AIS, with both matches being highly competitive and decided by a narrow margin of 3-5 points. The game between Colin and Aiden remained tightly contested throughout, with AIS initially taking an 11-point lead. However, our team rallied towards the end, displaying focused determination and ultimately clinching the win with a final decisive smash. Unfortunately, our luck did not carry over to the singles games as our opponents proved too good and emerged victorious in all of the matches. Nevertheless, Nathan's singles match came closest to a win for us, with a final score of 21 to 18. Despite the losses, we learnt that we should practise and learn more tactics and skills. It reinforced the importance of maintaining a positive attitude even in the face of defeat.

Xanthus, Grade 7