The Art Of Badminton

The Endless Struggle !

A week before Rey left to watch the Indonesia Open final, Rey had just competed for tickets for the Provincial U-17 championship. He managed to defeat his opponent and became the representative of Bandung Kota to qualify for the U-17 championship of West Java Province.

Later who became the Champion and Runner Up U-17 Provincial level will automatically qualify as a representative to the National level.

Rey's goal is still very long. Before he meets the players of the world, he must win the Tournament at the national level and be selected into the National Team as a junior.

There is so much to learn Rey. And Indonesia's men's doubles match against Taiwan's men's doubles that he is witnessing is now giving him a valuable lesson.

*

Rey still seemed to be in disbelief at what she was witnessing now. Kevin-Marcus persistence makes him amazed and think again that before the referee declares the game is over, then when the game we must not give up and must keep trying.

Rey clenched her hand so hard. Nay as usual squeezed Rey's arm spontaneously without her noticing.

Kevin did the horses and prepared to head off the hard smash from Wang Chilin.

A loud explosion from the Wang Chilin smash hit the side of the Stadium. The goose ball darted fast like a flash of light was following it. The ball leads right on Kevin's racket. It seemed like the ball was going to hit Kevin's racket, but the problem was whether Kevin's racket could hold the hard ball, considering Marcus' racket had been smashed to the ground could not resist how strong Wang Chilin's smash ball was.

Flashes of light and whirlwinds seemed to follow the speed of the goose feather. Before the ball reaches the racket, Kevin swings his racket backward by following the rhythm of the ball with the aim to reduce the speed and strength of the ball when in direct contact with the strings of the racket. And it's true that the ball returned smoothly even though it was still with a high connection.

Although the ball can still be returned, but Kevin's ball control is not perfect.

Wang Chilin who looked quite shocked returned to do a deadly jumping smash and was still directed towards Kevin. Kevin did the horses just like before, and he tried to do the same technique to block the smash ball from Wang Chilin.

The ball penetrates the air at high speed. Like earlier, Kevin swung his racket backward by following the rhythm of the ball a little until finally the ball touched Kevin's racket with reduced strength.

The ball is returned by Kevin with perfect control and falls in the empty area of the Taiwanese couple. The stadium crowd was rumbling more than ever. Rey spontaneously stood up and breathed out her joy. Likewise with Nay whose eyes look teary.

Lee Yang and Wang Chilin looked both shocked and disappointed. The look on the couple's face was grim as if they could not believe what had just happened.

Wang Chilin's sense of disappointment was greater compared to his partner Lee Yang, the reason he still did not believe his secret punch could be broken by the opponent. He bowed disappointedly while asking for a pause to wipe off the sweat.

18 - 20 and the points of the Indonesian pair are getting closer to the Taiwanese pair.

**

Lee Yang and Wang Chilin still seemed to not believe that Kevin could break the deadly blow from Wang Chilin.

By the time the Taiwanese couple planned to attack Marcus with the deadly smash of Wang Chilin, Kevin and Marcus themselves were already aware of it. When wiping the sweat earlier, Marcus would have discussed with Kevin about it.

The ball came back quickly. For Indonesian couples not to make a single mistake is an absolute thing.

I don't know what Kevin and Marcus are planning to put a damper on Wang Chilin's deadly smash if it leads to Marcus. But judging by the facial expressions of Kevin and Marcus, they seem to have a plan to block the deadly smash of the opponent.

Fast games and difficult techniques come and go. The ball is now rolling towards the opponent's field. Lee Yang quickly picked up the ball and smashed straight towards the middle between Kevin and Marcus. And sure enough the ball makes Kevin - Marcus hesitated to take the ball. As a result the ball was picked up late and hit the side of Marcus' racket so his return was imperfect and a liability. Lee Yang immediately grabbed the ball and was held by Marcus with a clear unstable control. The ball flew far back. Kevin - Marcus knows it's time to try the plan they talked about. At times like this take risky decisions even though they must be tried. For Indonesian double couples this is absolutely must be done.

When Wang Chilin jumped to do a smash, Marcus seemed to lean his body as if he was going to switch positions with Kevin. Marcus tried to confuse Wang Chilin so that his punch was not one hundred percent perfect.

And it was true that Wang Chilin looked a little shaky, his deadly fast-moving smash was still directed towards Marcus. But his punch was not as strong as before. The ball was successfully intercepted by Marcus and returned to the opponent's field although not perfect. Lee Yang who was still ahead did not waste this opportunity. The ball was again struck in Kevin's direction, but Kevin was ready and had perfect ball control. He returned the ball with one of his techniques that had not appeared for a long time. The return ball is curved like evading the opponent's obstacles, and casually the ball lands on the opponent's field. The audience is getting more crazy. It is undeniable that this match is very entertaining and thrilling.

The Taiwanese double pair looked very disappointed, several times they hit the head with their own racket.

19 - 20 and the Indonesian pair only need one more number to equalize.

The ball flies at an unreasonable speed from one side of the field to the other. What an extraordinary ability of both partners. several times Kevin had to crouch to be able to return the ball because of thin and difficult return of the ball from the opponent. Lee Yang intelligently looked at the empty area and pointed the ball in that direction. Kevin and Marcus tried to run after the ball and finally Marcus threw his body back to reach the ball. Lee grinned because that was exactly what he wanted. He wanted Kevin and Marcus to both chase the ball and leave the area empty. That way Lee Yang could freely turn off the ball and could not possibly be pursued again.

As per Lee Yang's estimation, the ball flew back and the Indonesian pair left the empty area on the left of the field, and there was no way the Indonesian pair could reach it, because Kevin and Marcus were too far away.

Taiwanese double couple is overwhelmed with excitement. The ball was immediately hit by Lee Yang to the left of the field right to the left of Kevin. Kevin's hand is not in the back hand position, so it is difficult to take the ball even though Kevin has to drop his body though.

All the spectators looked resigned. Nay screams hysterically and Rey knows because it seems this is the end of the Indonesian couple's struggle.

Lee Yang's straight ball shot into the left area of the Indonesian pair's field. But what happened. The ball does not fall on the Indonesian pair's field, but immediately the ball back shot to the right area of the opponent's field and fell right on the outer field line.

The whole stadium looked silent like a statue. Same with Taiwanese couples.

Kevin's crazy punch is beyond reason. There's never been a blow like that before.

Kevin smoothly turned his body to the right like a bandage. He turned his body clockwise by stretching out his hand and the racket he was holding. His feet pulled up and twisted his body quickly. And immediately the ball is hit and returned to the opponent's field.

Rey was silent. In his mind he was just trying to repeat the blow that Kevin had done earlier. To him, this was all like a dream. But Nay squeezed back his shoulders and arms. And that's where Rey just realized that all this is real.

The audience again cheered and the craze was even crazier than before.