On the Pressure Heat

So, Thomas Cup.

I'm sure we've all came to know about the results. How the disappointment from the start with the loss to Japan (!), and the win against Denmark, then the match against China and what we saw in the finals. But whatever the result was, how many of us have ever imagined if we're ever in their shoes, playing for the country in such a major game?

Was with a friend when we chat about the game over lunch the other day. And somehow the conversation drifted to being present in the stadium for the game, where all the happening events took place. Imagine, the entire indoor stadium, majority Malaysian, watching the game with mounting hopes, that we'd get back the Thomas Cup again.

The indoor stadium isn't exactly that huge, anywhere you sit, you get to see the game quite clearly. Plus, it's an indoor compound, a shout could echo and lead to very rippling effect. On top of that, they've got all those balloon-rods which produced metal-like sounds when both sticks are hit together; one person alone could produce some deafening sound, let alone the entire indoor stadium.

So imagine this, you're playing there and you've got all these noise around you, and people booo-ing you when you can't get the ball or your ball didn't go through the net. It's not really a form of encouragement. At least not for me. With all the pressure on your shoulder, it's no wonder some players fumbled.

But for a person to reach until that level and play for the country, and to play in their homeland, carrying such a huge burden of pressure, I think it's a very great achievement for them. They must've had worked very hard for the game.

The worst was, when the points were tied, and additional points were given with additional time. That's when one hit on the shuttlecock and you get a cheer; whereby with each hit you get a cheer; and when the opposition managed to reply your ball, there was a boo. So it was basically a cheer-boo combination, which I thought, not only rude for the foreigners, it was pretty annoying, especially when you're the one playing. Of course, as spectator, you joined in the crowd and it was an enjoyable thing to do. But I think it's really torturing for the players.

Having said that, which act of bullying other people hadn't been enjoyable? Not everyone see things from other point of views.