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Vaiyshnavi, a Year One Millennia Institute student, recently clinched 7th position in the A-Division Girls’ Masters in the National Schools Games 2017, shares more on her sporting journey.
Why bowling?My parents loved the sport, I was inspired by them. I joined bowling as a co-curricular activity in Primary Three and have been passionate about it ever since.
I also look up to Singapore’s national bowlers for their achievements and my coaches are also strong pillars of support.
Describe what a typical day is like for you.
School, training, repeat. My schedule has been hectic, having to juggle with studies and training, but in between I also try to spend time with my family and friends, and whenever possible I squeeze in time to swim.
Sounds busy! What are some tips to juggle between school and training?
Be disciplined. I will always set out with a timetable at the beginning of the week to ensure that my time is well planned. My teachers and coaches have been very understanding, so I get to prioritise and plan my schedule accordingly.
What do you enjoy most about bowling?
Bowling is a form of stress relief, especially during trainings. I like to hear the sound of pins being knocked down as it gives me a sense of satisfaction.
Tell us your greatest challenge and how you overcame it.
It gets very stressful when I do not perform up to expectations during competitions. Bowling is mentally draining and the atmosphere gets immensely tense during competitions. I remind myself to focus on my physical game and targets instead of comparing myself against other competitors. It is not easy, and I am still learning to be more resilient and remain focused on my game, not the scores.
Words of encouragement to share with younger athletes?
To younger athletes – enjoy bowling (or any sport that you are in) and have fun! Sports definitely requires a high level of mental and physical strength, so I would encourage younger athletes to learn to take failures in their stride and use it as motivation to improve themselves.
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