(by Kef Noorani)

I entered the nationals with several goals in mind, with the most important one being to win the U13 boys singles title.

Earlier this year at the trials in Charlotte, I had already achieved the top spot in the U13 category, and I was determined to retain my ranking. While the group stage was straightforward, my first single elimination match pitted me against my friend Jingfan Feng. It was an intense and closely contested battle, with momentum swinging back and forth. In the end, I made some adjustments and emerged victorious with a 3-2 score, propelling me to the quarterfinals.

My next opponent was a left-handed player named Joe Zhang. Although he secured the first game by utilizing his effective serve and attacking skills, I remained composed because I had faced him numerous times before. Drawing from my experience, I won the next three games, triumphing with a score of 3-1. My coach also pointed out that I had been standing too far away from the table and taking my underspin shots too late.

In the semifinals, I faced Shriraam Velayuthum. Since his style of play resembled that of some of my earlier matches, I knew what approach to take. Ultimately, I secured a 3-0 victory, allowing me to move on to the other semifinal and determine who my final opponent would be.

As it turned out, my final match was against Kyler Chen, who is my friend and teammate in many previous tournaments. Our first two games were relatively straightforward, and I won them comfortably. However, in the third game, it was tied at 8-8 with Kyler serving. The game turned his way and he ended up winning that game and the following one as well. With the score now tied at 2-2, a large number of people were watching and cheering their favorite player on. Every point became a hard-fought battle, and neither of us was willing to yield. After a questionable call by the referee that favored my opponent, I felt a surge of anger. I won four consecutive points, and I could sense Kyler becoming nervous. As Kyler’s coach started cheering for him louder, he regained his composure. At 8-7, Kyler, positioned far from the table, delivered an astonishing forehand shot to claim the point. At that moment, it seemed like I was about to lose, now trailing 9-7 and receiving. However, I recalled my purpose and dug deep to secure an 11-9 victory in the end.

As I walked off the court, I could vividly recall numerous people coming up to congratulate me, remarking, “At 9-7, we thought it was over.” I expressed my gratitude to my coach and the supportive spectators and proceeded to the next phase of the tournament. This match and the journey to the final will forever remain etched in my memory, and I am grateful to my coaches and my dad for their unwavering support. I take immense pride in my accomplishments, having overcome formidable opponents like Joe Zhang, Shriraam Velayuthum, Jingfan Feng, and ultimately Kyler Chen in the final. These experiences have not only sharpened my skills as a table tennis player but have also imparted invaluable lessons on perseverance and sportsmanship.

I extend my heartfelt thanks to Bowmar Sports, Butterfly and my coaches for their support and sponsorship throughout this tournament.

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