Why Playing Badminton Will Change Your Perspective on Success Forever
Badminton is played from the mind as much as from the hands
If I had to choose one sport to play forever, the scales would tip in badminton’s favour. When I began to watch it on T.V., I quickly got bored because the shuttle moved faster than my eyes could.
When I began playing it, it was love at first sight.
It subtly taught me several things about success I am going to share with you all.
#1: Your shoulders decide your success
Yes, the area joining your neck with your chest can tell a lot about your situation.
I have watched matches where both the players have equal ability. And I can predict who will win by seeing how they handle tension.
Usually, when a person feels tension from losing points continuously, her shoulders hitch. She becomes desperate, hitting smashes that land on the net and missing easy shots.
But, if that person stays calm in the worst of conditions, she can slowly cover-up and win.
The point is, even in life we will be thrown under the bus. You can panic … or you can stay calm and continue unravelling the problem. It is hard, sure, but it is worth it.
A clear sky is better than a tornado to solve problems.
#2: You have to analyse people (problems) to win
Whenever it is not my match, I sit down and observe.
I see the spots which the players have left uncovered. I see which shots they have issues in picking. I see their strengths and their weaknesses. I analyse.
Then, I use this knowledge against them in my match.
Similarly, crying won’t solve your life’s problems.
You need to observe their source, analyse their occurrences, and think deep so that they don’t bother you again.
For example, probably you are not scoring well.
That might be because you don’t pay attention in class or you don’t make notes then and there. Once you have figured out the reason, act on it.
Speaking is easier than doing. But doing something is better than doing nothing.
#3: Your success also depends on how well you connect
(I have already narrated this incident here.)
I know two sterling badminton players. Name them A and B. A has a slightly upper edge in the game, with faster smashes and better picks. Yet, when we play a doubles match, people are more eager to club with B.
Can you reckon the reason?
A has an uncouth mouth. He gives nil respect to his unfortunate partner, gloating about his skills. B is considerate. She doesn’t tarnish the other’s dignity just because she plays better.
That makes the game much more enjoyable for the partner.
Also, when A or B need help, people are more eager to jump to B’s aid and pick her side.
Being nice to people and not forgetting your friends has its advantages, both financially and mentally. Sportsmanship and collaboration are important skills to gain.
#4: Resources AND Skills — both matter
People say the racket doesn’t matter but the person does.
This is a lie.
Tools (money) matter. The better badminton rackets you buy, the better your game becomes. It is as the weight of the racket decreases and its strings become finer.
But that doesn’t mean that it will guarantee you a win.
More than the racket, your practice matters. The more you play, the quicker you become.
Having both the factors in your favour is the best thing.
Suggested Read
This week, I finished The Song of Achilles by Madeline Miller.
I loved the book from page one!
Set during the Greek Heroic Age, it is an adaptation of Homer's Iliad as told from the perspective of Patroclus.
It follows the journey of Patroclus and Hercules, how love blossomed between them, how the Gods and the kings intervened in their lives, how the Trojan War happened and how it ended.
The book left me in awe and tears.
The writing was impeccable, and the story was heart-warming. I couldn’t stop reading.
All the characters were fleshed out. The themes of friendship, love, and pride were discovered. Even if you aren’t an ardent fantasy fan, this will make you adore the genre.
Here are some of its quotes that touched my heart:
“And perhaps it is the greater grief, after all, to be left on earth when another is gone.”
“In the darkness, two shadows, reaching through the hopeless, heavy dusk. Their hands meet, and light spills in a flood like a hundred golden urns pouring out of the sun.”
“We were like gods at the dawning of the world, and our joy was so bright we could see nothing else but the other.”
Previous issues, in case you missed them: