Sunday, July 22, 2007

I've finally gotten down to writing about the most stunning and emotional week i've had in probably all 18 years i've lived.

Thursday and Friday were two days that were huge emotional rollercoasters.

Thursday a day of disappointment and short lived tears of bitter disappointment, a painful return from what was put in through those fateful June holidays.

Friday, a day that still feels unreal to me, a day which showed 6 years of hard work, of sweat, blood and tears, rewarded for the first time.

It seemed like a blur.
" Cinderella Man", a movie of a boxer who wouldn't quit, inspired. I remember standing up before Braddock's last fight, think abt myself 3 hours later in a ring of my own. I couldn't help jumping and moving my limbs as if to warm them up, because i was thinking, picturing what was to happen. I think my teammates were restless as well, moving, it seemed like an unspoken message, the same message which echoed through our minds.

Then we were on the bus, i sat, mind restlessly thinking, eyes fixated out the window. The comfortable silence, comforted me for that short bus ride, for i knew what was to come was a challenge that i awaited, a challenge that i dreaded, yet looked forward to at the same time.

We got to the hall.
I sat down. Slept. Got up. Slept. Got up again.
Then i prayed, felt calmer. Prayed again for God to do His work and to lend me His strength. Then i felt steadier, readier, not rid of nervousness but at least firm in what i was to do.

Then it began. The C girls and boys cruised to victory, kudos to both sides who did well. Although it was morale boosting, to me i was a lil numb. My mind slowly numbing the effects of other sources of agitation. I closed my eyes at the cheers of the crowd as i felt a tingling sensation run through my body. I wanted to just feel it for the last time in six years. Feed on it before i went into my own fight, not being able to notice anything else.

Then the B girls stepped in. And we went outside.
I forced myself not to peek through the doors. No distractions. Thomas was there measuring our heartbeats as we warmed up. Some of us warmed up and stood there. For a moment, we all stopped, Carl against the wall, Velden just a few feet away, i was just beside and we were all quietly standing there. There were no words, no movements, just silence as you could feel the thoughts on the bout to come flowing.

I remember the words Velden spoke, " I just feel that it'll be different this time round." The truth is the scars from the loss of the C boys and B boys titles were more painful than ever, making me more fearful and nervous. I'm sure it was the same for some if not all of us. At the same time it was exciting. The last event of 6 years. The last chance to prove ourselves. The last chance to show that we could do it, that we weren't going to give in to painful thoughts or memories, or to expectations of us not to win. I remember walking along the corridor a few days earlier, hearing people discuss about us. " Are you sure they can win? They lost before leh." I heard it clearly, and it came back to haunt me. But it was going to be different.

Then it was us. Walking in to watch the A girls, a result which was the most underserving to a batch which had worked so hard and come so far. They trained more often and so hard that it was admirable to me. Seeing them in tears, brought unspeakable feelings to my heart. There were no words which i could find to comfort, no words that were enough to fill the pain. We went through it before. Its too unique to be replaced. But i know that in my eyes, these A girls are the champions beyond a doubt.

The feeling that coursed through my heart when the A girls bout ended really pushed me and probably all of us on. The nervousness in my heart was mostly gone. Anticipation. The crowds cheers. It felt familiar. I looked across to see the supposed favourites. I don't think we cared too much for it. I remember Yongkeong shouting to us as we did our last cheer, " This is our last chance for revenge." That was the last thign that registered before it began.

Velden stepped in. And the heartstopper begun. But it way exceeded our predictions as it ended with a stunning ippon. The crowd and the team went wild. 1-0. A way which we never expected to start the match but totally magical.

Wanzie stepped in. Breathtaking 1 min of danger before he finished it beautifully and we were just amazed. Throats hoarse from shouting in pure delight and excitement. 2-0. Just one more step.

Jit stepped in. And it was close. Down by a Koka until the last 14 seconds, a mistake of going down on his knees cost Jit's opponent a fatal shido. As we count down, 5,4,3...2...1. Then it was over. I jumped up in pure happiness. I could feel the emotions whirling in me. Sir was out of the chair, jumping up as well. We won.

Even though, i screwed up my bout making a fatal mistake in the last 14 seconds. To me, in my mind i guess somehow it didn't really matter. After we ended, we stepped out and the tears flowed. Uncontrollably, we hugged each other and just teared. I remember hearing, " We won! We won!" somewhere around me... but it was just too amazing.

When they announced, the winner for the A division boys, it was a dream come true.

A team that made a difference.
Thomas,Jit,Velden,Carl,Wanpeng,Nigel,Yk.
These 6 years ended beautifully... in an ending we hoped and worked for. In one we had looked forward to all these years. The complaints, the pains and muscle aches. All worth it. 6 years in 3 minutes. Every camp worth 10 seconds in that bout. It was just worth it.

Thank God for honouring this prayer and for standing by me through the rough and providing with the amazing. Sustaining me with your peace and holding me in your love. It was an amazing journey, but this journey was not only undertaken with me and the team, but also with God who held me.

Thank you:)