Blast from the past
Stepping into the bowling alley on Sunday, there were mixed feelings. A feeling of familiarity and indifference, but yet still somewhat different.
Back in the good ol' days of being part of Team SG and being active in the sport, most of us averaged about at least 4-5 days a week spent in the bowling alley training or bowling in leagues with up to a maximum of spending 7 days a week in the alley. Going to the alley was like routine be it for trainings or leagues or even sometimes for a tournament.
This was the exact same familiarity and indifference that i felt that day, but it was different because i had been away from the sport for about 2 years - technically about 1 year but whos looking at technicality and who's counting - and bowling in a small competition no less! The annual CSC vs. SIA bilateral games.
Everything was normal. Even during the practice throws before the actual 6 games commenced. But the moment where the first ball you threw mattered, my heart was beating rapidly and there was this strange feeling in my stomach as i proceeded to step onto the approach and prepare for my first shot. Something which i had not felt for a very long time while bowling. I was actually nervous!
I was nervous because I did not want to bowl badly and embarrass myself infront of my club members. Especially being a ex-Team Sg bowler, and I certaintly did not want to lose face infront of the younger bowlers from my club. It took me about 1 game to settle down and actually catching the feeling and timing of my shots and i started to bowl much better.
There was one game in particular where i felt really good. I was in my groove and was bowling very well for that game, ending with 247 pinfalls. I had chalked up 7 strikes in a row which had allowed me to re-capture my glory days where, after you threw your shot, you know it was a good shot and confident that a strike would be the outcome, and people where cheering loudly after your shot was thrown.
Overall i think i did well. Averaging about 190 pinfalls over 6games, something in which i was proud of, although there were some lapses with low games. But I think NS did me well as I was stronger mentally and did not put too much stress on myself which would normally cause me to implode.
The only sad thing that i realise was that, gone are my glory days of donning the Team Singapore jersey and flying to different countries to take part in international tournaments and representing Singapore.
Back in the good ol' days of being part of Team SG and being active in the sport, most of us averaged about at least 4-5 days a week spent in the bowling alley training or bowling in leagues with up to a maximum of spending 7 days a week in the alley. Going to the alley was like routine be it for trainings or leagues or even sometimes for a tournament.
This was the exact same familiarity and indifference that i felt that day, but it was different because i had been away from the sport for about 2 years - technically about 1 year but whos looking at technicality and who's counting - and bowling in a small competition no less! The annual CSC vs. SIA bilateral games.
Everything was normal. Even during the practice throws before the actual 6 games commenced. But the moment where the first ball you threw mattered, my heart was beating rapidly and there was this strange feeling in my stomach as i proceeded to step onto the approach and prepare for my first shot. Something which i had not felt for a very long time while bowling. I was actually nervous!
I was nervous because I did not want to bowl badly and embarrass myself infront of my club members. Especially being a ex-Team Sg bowler, and I certaintly did not want to lose face infront of the younger bowlers from my club. It took me about 1 game to settle down and actually catching the feeling and timing of my shots and i started to bowl much better.
There was one game in particular where i felt really good. I was in my groove and was bowling very well for that game, ending with 247 pinfalls. I had chalked up 7 strikes in a row which had allowed me to re-capture my glory days where, after you threw your shot, you know it was a good shot and confident that a strike would be the outcome, and people where cheering loudly after your shot was thrown.
Overall i think i did well. Averaging about 190 pinfalls over 6games, something in which i was proud of, although there were some lapses with low games. But I think NS did me well as I was stronger mentally and did not put too much stress on myself which would normally cause me to implode.
The only sad thing that i realise was that, gone are my glory days of donning the Team Singapore jersey and flying to different countries to take part in international tournaments and representing Singapore.