Are you game?

All right, the bar's getting a little too wedding-y. Hands in the air, everyone, and slowly step away from the mandap. :/

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Eight years ago, a senior at university gave this freshie some good advice.

"Pick up a sport, Sayesha, and be serious about it."

I never really heeded his advice. Most of my university life was spent doing the following:
a) Writing silly poetry
b) Attending Shruthilaya (our music troup) rehearsals
c) Trying to get the damn engineering degree quickly so I could quickly start work as anything but an engineer.

Recently, his words have been coming back to me. I have started taking badminton (the only sport I ever played and enjoyed) more seriously. Though I am not as good at it as I would like to be, I think it's the greatest workout plan ever. The problem with gymming or swimming is that it gets a bit monotonous. With badminton, it's not just a great way to work up a sweat, it's also a lot of fun. Especially the ass-kicking that happens on the courts.

Last year, I used to play badminton with my colleagues at one of the community centres. There was this particular group of retirees who used to play regularly. They were so good that just watching them play would make you wanna yank out your racquet strings and hang yourself with them. And I thought to myself - when I am that old, would I be playing any sport? If yes, I guess it wouldn't be anything but badminton.

Perhaps it's high time I got serious about the game.

Perhaps it's high time I jot down all the things that have been going through my mind at the courts in the last two weekends.

• You're shaky now but contrary to what you may like to believe, you are not new to the game. You two have met before, so don't feign unfamiliarity.
  
• Practise hard. You can beat him. Her. Everyone.
• You can't serve for nuts. Notice how you get smashed on your serves? Learn how to serve.
  
• No excuses. Yes, you have a bad knee. Don't think about it. Till it starts hurting.
• You don't even know the rules. Learn 'em.
• Learn from your opponent's game too.
• Start having fun after you have gotten reasonably good at the game.
  
• He uses his height as an advantage, you gotta counter it with agility.
• Don't be too easy on yourself. Push yourself.
• Know your weaknesses. Work on them.
• Know your opponent's weaknesses. Work them.
• Don't play 'civil'. Not unless the opponent is new to the game.
• Don't get carried away by how good a workout it is. You must get better with each game.
• If none of your skills were sharpened, the game was a waste even if you won.
• Even if you're not the best, at least be good.
  
• Never lose your 'shuttle sense' (term courtesy my baddie buddy Nick).
• Yes, your stamina is low. Don't use that as an excuse. Build it up.
• Less style, more substance.
  
• You can only kick a few asses after you've got your ass royally kicked.
• Make unpredictability your greatest strength.

And most importantly, there are people out there playing 13 different sports each. Don't stink at the only sport you play. :P