Badminton Tournament - Final Chapter - The end game

Badminton - The Final Chapter - The End Game.

So, the eagerly awaited grand finale team event had finally arrived. It was a two-day extravaganza with close to 100 participants. Teams went by various quirky names like Mayavi, Kalan, Kuttusan, Marutha, and Kodumkattu what not, with everyone trying to prove their might on WhatsApp groups. Most of it was just hollow bragging, though.

Our team was "God's Own Feathers." Everyone played really well. One person couldn't play due to an injury, but they showed up to watch and cheer for all the matches. Victory lies in encouragement; what is a game or a victory without anyone to clap?

Since it was a family event, wives, husbands, elders, and mothers kept praying—some shouting out loud cheers. True to tradition, some folks arrived solely to eat banana fritters, juice, and rolls. I suspect I even spotted a few prominent figures from the association among them! Then there were those who, figuring that if they couldn't win, no one else should either, tried to heckle and boo the other teams into defeat. But as they say, what goes around comes around, and those people ended up utterly failing and falling flat on their faces. On the first night, WhatsApp groups and gossip circles were buzzing with discussions on how to defeat us. People really don't want others to live in peace—is such petty jealousy even real?

Families showed up in full force, taking turns looking after the kids. Another amusing sight was multitasking prodigies managing the games while holding babies, driven by the fear of not getting dinner if they went home early and the terror of their wives' stern glares.

In between all this, various people came over to catch up. Was it because I once played in a final, or because of the infamous reputation of blogging and boring people with it? Who knows.

Overall, there was an air of determination. People stepped onto the court to play for the team even when they weren't feeling well, with injuries ranging from the tip of their nose to the soles of their feet. That is badminton for you.

We sailed through the group stages without much trouble. Some panicked and lost their grip on the game, but bounced back strongly in the next matches.

However, as usual, our final match was a nail-biter. After tying at 20-20, it went on to something like 25-25. Winning was non-negotiable. Opposing us were two titans. I casually resorted to my signature move—a drop shot—and it worked! A moment when my heart skipped a beat as the shuttle grazed the top of the net. As if taking pity on my sorrow, the shuttle dropped on their side. The next point secured our spot in the semi-finals. Within the next two minutes, people rushed over to congratulate us.

Our victory also breathed life into other teams; they came over to thank us because it helped them too. Once it reached the semi-finals, the defeated bigshots all headed home. Is there anyone better at making excuses? They needed time to make their next video and keep up the bluff.

Special mention goes to the performances of the youngsters. Having gone for training, they played really well. Kudos to them. A lot of new faces also proved their mettle, returning every single smash like lightning.

The games went on very late. We played like warriors and reached the finals. But we stumbled at the final hurdle and couldn't win the championship match. This time, we had to settle for the distinction of being finalists. Still, we achieved something out of nothing. Even Argentina doesn't win every time, so who are we?

By the time I crept in past midnight, I hardly expected a single grain of rice to be left. Luckily, I got some rice. Our apartment has a tradition of locking out late-arriving husbands for the entire night, so you have to expect anything.

At the end of the day, what we won wasn't just matches, but friends and acquaintances—people we used to see long ago, those who used to greet us with half-smiles, and those we had never spoken to before. Everyone became someone. May this badminton community live on!

Until we meet again at next month's tournament, greetings. To the victors, a bouquet smelling of victory; to the defeated, a wreath smelling of nothing at all.

Regards. Please leave your thoughts in the comments.