Reflection on overseas competition (WALAA)

I just had an overseas Track and Field competition recently called WALAA, it is actually an event that is organized every year with Australia, Malaysia and Singapore. This year the competition was held in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. I was really excited about this competition as I was chosen to represent Singapore to compete with other top athletes from Australia and Malaysia. Another thing that thrilled me was that I was the captain of the under 14 boys! The athletes that were chosen to compete was based on their positions during the Singapore Track and Field nationals held earlier this year.

About a month before the trip, we had a team briefing on the itinerary as well distributing the team jerseys. The team manager also told us about the appropriate behavior we should conduct. During the time between the briefing we had and the trip, I felt extremely psyched to do my best and get a medal. Finally when the day of the trip arrived, I had my suitcase packed of all the things I needed and was ready to go! We were told to assemble at Commonwealth secondary school where we did all the administration matters. As soon as everyone was present, we boarded a coach which would bring us to Kuala Lumpur.

The ride to Malaysia was definitely very long and tiring but it was the time where we could socialize get to know one another. The trip there including the toilet breaks and lunch break took up almost the whole day. When we arrived at the hotel, it was already dinner time. I felt the hotel that we stayed in was very cozy and I would say I totally enjoyed my stay there. The hotel was just beside one of the largest shopping malls, we could just walk out of the lobby of the hotel and it would be greeted by huge names and mouth-watering food. We were assigned to share a room with. I was roomed with someone I totally did not know before, he was a long-distance runner. My friends got to room with someone they were familiar with, I felt that it was sort of unfair but I learnt to look at it in a positive light. I was able to make a new friend and have the experience of rooming with someone I did not know. Soon after, we went to the shopping mall for dinner and we had Japanese food, one of my favorite food! The following day was the day of training at the competition ground, so we all slept early so we could be energized for the next day.

The second day of the trip started with a wake up call at 6.30, after that we went downstairs for breakfast buffet at the restaurant in the hotel. Then we set off for the competition ground. The bus ride to the stadium was not very long it took only about 20 to 30 minutes. There were split into our own events and trained. I trained with my friend as well as my senior at the field, the field was not very different but the Javelin we used was totally different from what we used back in Singapore. The Javelins were all spoil and it was more difficult to throw them. But I believed that during the competition, they would be using better Javelin so I just tried to get used to the throwing area. While taking a break on the stands, I would be able to see all the athletes training different events. That made me feel really great and proud to be part of the team. After training ended, we returned back to the hotel and we were given free time to do eat or shop. I went to the shopping mall to explore what they had on sale as well as the food that they had. They had almost everything! Once we were done with our shopping and eating we were told to assemble at the lobby where we were brought behind the restaurant for our debrief of the day. I found out that the team had actually put my name on the event, discus. I was surprised as I was did not know about it. I felt a little worried, as I had not trained for the event in a while. I decided I would just try my best and get a good position, as it was not my main event anyway.

The third day of the trip was the first day of the competition. I had my surprise discus event on this day. There was not a wake up call on the day but we were expected to set our own alarm and assemble at the lobby by 9.30am. After eating breakfast and packing our bags for the day, we set out for the stadium. At the stadium, I felt a little nervous but I tried to forget out it by listening to music. When it was time for our competition, we were then escorted to the competition ground. The competition started and my fellow teammates were giving their all at their throws. As it came to my turn, I did what I usually did when I usually trained. My throw turned out to be alright, surprisingly. The results of the competition were calculated and I turned out to 6th place. It was not too bad, as I did not have high expectations. I made new friends with some of the Australians and Malaysians too. There were some who could throw really far. It was great that I could get a good idea of how the other countries were doing in the events. After that, we went back to the stands and cheered our other teammates who were having their events. It felt so awesome cheering the others as a team! After the last event ended, we took the bus back to the hotel where we had our dinner. There was actually a political rally happening on that same day, we were very lucky to have left the stadium and took an alternative route to avoid any riots that could break out. We ended the day with our team debrief at a function room, announcing the results of the medals we won. Then we went back to our hotel rooms for a good rest.

I woke up on the fourth day of the trip feeling determined and ready to “kick some ass”. It was the same routine as the day before, so we were gathered at lobby at 9.30am. One thing that I saw that morning was the headlines on the newspapers. It talked about the riot the day before. I saw pictures of the riot, the police had to use tear gas and strong jets of water to disperse the crowd. I felt tremendously lucky that we did not encounter the riot on that day. On the trip to the stadium, I took out my iPod and started playing songs that worked me up, songs that got me to go hyper. When we reached the stadium I started warming up and ate some energy food to energize me. When they called for my event, I was feeling extremely nervous as I was really determined to get a medal. The event started and we had our warm up throws, I could basically sieve out who were the better Javelin throwers. Although I could see one or two competitors who could throw further than me, I tried not to think about it instead just focusing on my own throw. My throws were not as far as I expected it to be. When the competition was over, I was actually quite disappointed, as I did not throw my personal best. But I was able to clench a bronze medal. After that we went back to the stands and cheered our teammates who were still competing on. After all the events ended, all three teams assembled at the field while awards were given out for the best athletes. Then everyone walked together to the sports academy, which was beside the stadium, that was where we had our feast and made many new friends. As soon as everyone was done with their food, we went around taking photos with different people. It was really great to be able to interact and get to know each other. The thing that I found really interesting was the fact that we traded shirts and other stuff like tracksuits! I was able to exchange my Singapore jersey with an Australian jersey. I think that would definitely leave us with memories. Almost everyone there was going on a high screaming and shouting was heard everywhere! As much as everyone wanted the moment to last, we had to leave. I felt really sad that it ended so quickly. As we were leaving the place, we said our last goodbyes and exchanged hugs. This was definitely what it felt to make friendship ties between people of different country and races. It was totally an amazing experience! When we went back to the hotel, we had our debrief again. We were given instructions for the next day as we were going to be checking out of the hotel the next day. I really felt to attached to the team that I just could not bear the thought of the trip ending and leaving the place. I was sure that many of my other friends felt the same way too. When the debrief was over, I tried to savor every moment I had left. That night I slept with a really reluctant heart, I knew I would miss that place like mad when I came back to Singapore.

The last day of the trip we had to wake up really early, we checked out by 8.30am and were on the coach back to Singapore. But the good thing was that we still had one last chance to be with the team. We were given a heritage tour in Malacca, which was on the way back to Singapore. The tour was really enriching, we found out more about the history of the church there and how the founder did it. After that last tour, we were on the way back to Singapore. After the long journey back home, we finally reached Commonwealth Secondary school at about 5.30pm. There we said our goodbyes to one another. I would undeniably miss them.

This whole trip was certainly extremely fun and it taught me many things about friendship, determination and teamwork. I learnt that teamwork was really important in this competition because the people competing need our support so that they can feel motivated to run, jump or throw their best. I too learnt that being a team means all for one and one for all. We could not leave any one out of the group, everyone played and a part in the team and thus we should look out for one another. Being the captain of the under 14 boys gave the chance to be a leader and take charge. I learnt that being the captain meant that you will be responsible for everyone under you, it also meant that I had to a role model. Lastly, what I gained was the importance of friendship. Although we come to compete as three different countries, Singapore, Australia and Malaysia, we must leave as friends all from the same planet. Competition does not mean everything. Building friendship is still the most important thing we focus on.

I really hope that I will able to go for more of these overseas competitions in the future!