SUKAD 2008/09 – Archery

It’s been some time since I last posted a blog here. Very much ‘distracted’ by many things. After losing badly in SUKAD Squash few months back, I started playing archery. With Julian as the coach, and my 2 brothers as teammate, Alex and Arvind, we started training way back 3 months ago. I know I’m taking a big risk, cause by doing this, I will have less time in studies. But I really wanna try this last opportunity to glorify God in sports. Age is catching up with me, so does time. Archery was my last shot to get a gold in SUKAD. After this, I will ‘officially’ retired from competitive sports. No more intensive training after this. Just as the bible says in 1 Corinthians 9: 24-25, “Do you know that in a race all the runners run, but only one gets the prize. Everyone who competes in the games goes into strict training. They do it to get a crown that will not last; but we do it to get a crown that will last forever.”
The crown that athletes won in sport is a crown that will not last. Somehow, someday, they will be beaten or their records broken. But the crown that will last forever is the crown of our personal relationship with Jesus. We live a life that glorify God, that’s the crown that last forever. That’s why in sports, we give glory to God when we win.
Our training wasn’t an easy one. It was really a strenuous time. We shot arrows everyday except when it was raining, starting around 4.30pm till around 7pm. On weekends, we trained in the morning and evenings. And most of time, especially in the mornings, I go knocking on Arvind’s door. He will show his sleepy face, opening the door. Then after a few weeks, there come the raining season for about 1-2 months. During that period, I went to district hospital, Hospital Pasir Mas for 3 weeks.
Sometimes our training was fun, all those kutuk-mengutuk and gurau-bergurau between me, Alex and Arvind was hilarious. We used to joke, saying to Arvind, ‘If he hits the bullseye, Lynn will fall in love with him.’ Hahaha! Through this hard but fun training, I develop a bonding with Alex and Arvind.:-)
Came back from district hospital in the early January, we continue our intensive training for 2 weeks before we depart to USM Main Campus together with the female team. My family prayed for me and Im very happy that my dad owiz support my course and struggle in university. Many friends sms me encouraging messages, I was very touched.:-)
We prayed together before we go for each competition. The archery competition in Penang was eventful, we leads both events, 20m and 30m,winning the gold. The women team also got gold. This is my 1st gold won in USM, an unforgettable memory.

Gold medalist

射箭

最近我找到一个新运动， 那就是射箭。 我在这大学已经读了四年， 我从来没想到会学射箭。是  Julian 介绍给我的. 到今天， 我学了一个星期， 满爽了。 有其实中那中间黄色， 我觉得真的很 high! 好像找到宝物。 可是有时候， 我射的简会 miss! 那时候， 我心里好像刚刚 heartbroken. 很痛苦! 哈哈! 如果这射箭， 我可以练的好， 我可以代表 Murni Nurani 进 SUKAD. 就是我还有机会为 Murni Nurani 赢金牌。 赢了金牌， 我会把所有的荣耀贵给上帝。

 

进了这射箭， 我没时间作别的东西。 有时候， 我问我自己， 为什么我怎么 ‘无聊’ 参加这些活动?  可是我相信， 参加运动可以让我们活出基督徒! 赢了， 是一个荣耀主的事情。 好像我们在学业里得到成功， 我们会讲， ‘是上帝帮我们的!’。 如在运动也一样。

 

但是， 最重要也是我们和上帝的 personal relationship! 如果这个  personal relationship  不好， 我们所有在外面做的事情都不会成功的。 要保养我们和上帝的  personal relationship.

SUKAD 08/09 – Squash

As i write this post, a deep sense of heaviness fills my heart. SUKAD Squash was over about 24 hours ago. Dunno how should I start. Playing squash for MurniNurani team has come a long way for me, and Im kinda sad tat its ends this way.

I started playing squash in the middle of 1st yr, starting fr zero. I doesnt know anything about sports tat time. That time those seniors are just much superior than me in their games, and I feel so inferior. But I continue on playing, believing tat one day i’ll  be as good as them. But my game develop extremely slow, though i played everyday, about 2-3 hours. I couldnt bring my level at par with them. Many times i feel like wanna give up and quit, but somehow my heart was reluctant. I believe one day, this sport that I play will be a testimony for God.

Its only during 3rd yr tat I make it to SUKAD. We have 4 players and I was the 3rd player. But during tat SUKAD 06/07, I allow my mental weakness to supress me, and i lost to my opponents easily. As a result, my captain didnt field me in the final match. But we managed to win the silver. But deep in my heart, I knew I played badly and below my average game.

In 4th yr, they cancelled of squash fr SUKAD. I was so deep frustrated as I planned give my best games in this tournament. I soon began neglect training.

This time, I was chosen as the captain. I returned to training and try to get back my form. For the past 1 month, I practise hard, and try to overcome my mental weakness. I managed regain my confidence and improve my strokes.

When the tournament start ytd, We were pitted in group C. We won both group match and emerged top in group C. This was actually a mistake because top group C wil be facing top group B which in Jaya, the previous champion in semifinal. I dont understand why they do such a draw…

In the semifinal match against Jaya, we lost 2-1 was knocked out. In final, Jaya trashed Fajar Harapan easily. Should we hav purposely lose a match in group C, we would emerged runner-up in group C and avoided meeting Jaya in semifinal. We could hav won the silver as Fajar Harapan is much weaker than us. I feel frustrated when i thought of this. I feel like knocking my head on the wall. Last night, I cant sleep well…

I never thought my years of playing squash will end this way. I hav trying to comfort myself since last night. But wat is passed is passed. Life must go on and I hav to look forward. These 4 years of playing squash, besides the silver we won in SUKAD 06/07, many sweet and sour experiences i gained. I wil still play squash occasionally, when people invite me for a game.

Besides this, I do really hope more juniors will take up sports in campus, not just for SUKAD, but as way to live up our christian lives.