My Last Sports Day Year 08'

It was a morning like no other..
I woke up at 4am and took my early bath. At one moment, I just stared at the mirror infront of me.. I told myself, today is the day you've been waiting for, The Annual School Sports Day..

Oh i could remember each and every year that I've attended the sports day and everyone of them ended in a close call between Teratai and Dahlia for the past 4 years. It was a tight rivalry between just the both of them, however, we the unfortunate one's to lose each and every4 year to them. They just have the best line up each year.

I could remember back when I was in form 2, Jocelyn was one of the best runners for Dahlia's under 15 girls squad and how i would be bullying her back in those days.. Haha.. kinda miss her so much now that she is in Sarawak.

Form 3, and it was basically the same thing. I sat on the sidelines and watched them race. We had plenty of good runners, like Jimmy Arizona, but just not good enough. But i did my part in supporting my house till the last breath. Dahlia won that time.

Form 4 was the year for me to shine. It was the "Tall Duos" for Teratai. Iskhandar and another tall dude. They were dominating almost all the events for us except the sprinting. I was chosen to take part in the 400m, 4x100m and 4x400m race. First time I'm given the opportunity to run. It was like a dream come true for me. I always dreamed of running on the tracks alongside our finest athletics. It was a double bronze and a silver in my first year as a track runner. Dahlia still won the overall results. I remember Iskhandar telling me that i'm gonna be an important asset of Teratai next year.

And the Fifth and final year for me with the team. I was chosen to be the House Leader for Teratai. Earlier this year I was already chosen to take part in The Long Jump event, 100m, 200m, 4x400m, 4x100m, and the "last minute" 1500m event.



Personally, I already had a huge rivalry with the Firdaus Abu since Form 4 when he outran me to get 1st in the Cross Country race, I got 3rd fastest. He was just one of the finest athletics during my time. On the right is the picture of me receiving my third prize trophy (My most prized possession).


Back to the story. It was a tougher call for me cause now in Teratai, i didn't had anyone to look up to, someone who could have or would have inspire me. All i knew was that I was nervous. Then it came to me, "Now you're their leader!, You must show them, Inspire them, support them, Do all you can for them!" Basically they were looking up to me to set an example. Yet, i did what i can.. I was there every training on Tuesdays and never gave up on my team. On the preliminary rounds, I got second for 1500m and first for the long jump event. A good start for Teratai I guess and also my first Gold medal in a secondary standard. I made it through the finals of the 200m as well as the 100m. So i kept waiting till Race day.

>>>> A fast forward to the futero.. >>>>

And as soon as it was, it was the eve of the biggest event for the school, The Annual Sports Day. The night before i was up till 11pm and i couldn't sleep for a reason. My heart kept beating and i was nervous to actually keep thinking about it. I had a few disappointments when some of the people i knew couldn't make it for tomorrow, kinda disappointed with that, but that all changed when Miss Ruzana called me that night. She said she would be there and it was great to actually have someone like her around. She being an Ex-teratai teacher herself coming to support, gave me some calmness.

Just as I was getting packed up for tomorrow, I was cleaning my spikes when my mother came in the room.
She gave me a look and said "Your Granny was right.."
I was like "Right about what??"
She replied "She told me, one day your son will be a runner. He is gonna take part in a major event and he will make you smile."

That moment, tears streamed down my face. I couldn't help but to cry that night. Personally it was a sad moment for me, My granny already had this planned out for me, she knew one day I'll make it.. It has been 10 long years since I last sat and talked to my granny. I was a pesky little rascal that time, causing troubles for my granny. But i loved my granny so much. The reason of my obsession over orange was because of her. She used to love dressing me up in orange shirts and pants. I was young when she passed away and how it was a bitter part of life. Over the years, I felt that I had a strong chemistry with my granny.

That night, I told myself that
I'm gonna give everything..
ALL..
More than I've got,
just for my granny.. (my late granny).

I reached the stadium at 7.30am. First thing i did was my warm up. I jogged a 400m as well as did some stretching. Hours later the first event took place. The infamous 100m race. Many claim this as an important event. 30 seconds before the race started, i knelt down and prayed silently to my Grandma. I did this 30 seconds earlier in all my other events as well. I managed to run pass all the other athletics to win the prestigious 100m event. "This ones for you grandma!"

I almost managed to swoop a bronze from the 200m race. "Another one for you!"

At that moment, I was mentally energized, but physically felt pain on my groin area. My was praying my legs didn't fail me at an important moment like this. But, as how i hate to say it, I was driving myself a little too drastically by participating in a back to back race event. (Meaning that i have to get ready to run again once i finish my current race and again repeat the same thing.)

When i finished my 2nd event, i had about another 20 mins to prepare for my 4x400m race. I took a seat at the stands and actually took time out to talk to the gang for a while. I personally told Kheng Wai to replace me instead in the 4x400m race. I didn't thought for a moment I was driving myself too hard. He was also thinking about it for a while then later rejected the offer. He wasn't even prepared to run that day. I can't blame him though. After the 20 minutes has passed, i wore my shoes and got back into the track. Somehow i felt recovered. How? By talking with the gang! haha.. Funny.. but i was good to go..

I got to find out that the other 3 runners representing the house was amateurs.. Form 3.. all 3 of them. It didn't matter much to me.. All i told them was to do their very best. Personally i went to each of them and said "Don't drive yourself too much if you can't! I need you to finish the race (at least in 2nd or 3rd)! not to win it! That is more important than anything else" Well, I was placed to be the 2nd runner to help out my team. When i recieved the baton from the 1st runner, my position was last.. Yea.. last.. Eventually i ran as fast as i could beating my injuries and just ran like no other, I managed to pass the baton to the 3rd runner being 3rd in the standings. However, we didn't managed to grab any medals but we finished in fourth. The other 3 was disappointed but i cheered them up saying it wasn't bad for an inexperienced team. I told them to try harder next year.

I wasn't disappointed, i had to run with a injury and i felt what i did was as good as i could. Better than enough. But all i needed was just another medal to achieve my annual resolution. With one more event left, i couldn't give up. Just couldn't.

It was the 4x100m race. An event that could just make or break our chances of being the champions. My worst fear though was Rizal, he is an inexperienced runner. He isn't really fast but i had faith in him. The week before, i was talking and advising him on this run. I volunteered to be the 3rd just after Rizal (2nd runner) just for a back up and gave Hazli to be the forth runner with Khairul Nizam being the first runner. We started off pretty well, Nizam managed to pass the baton to Rizal being in 3rd placing, Rizal managed to maintain the 3rd spot despite having runners like Nazim, Haikal and Arief against him. He passed the baton to me and i raced to Hazli being in 2rd place. It was up to Hazli for us, and he got 3rd place for us. Yes! I ran towards Rizal and jumped on him congratulating him for his part as well as to the other 2 who did an outstanding job them self.. We did it! I got a medal! 3rd placing was just as good as nothing. Rizal of all of them was the happiest.. He was the hero of the hour!

So now it all came down to the statistic counts as well as the overall results. So we were placed in the middle of the field under the scorching hot sun. They slowly announced the results of the events that took place. And it came down to the trophy giving.

The first trophy was for the Best Overall Results in the Preliminary Rounds
Teratai won!!

Yes I was jumping like mad! We went up as groups to claim the trophy.

The second award was for the athletic of the year
We were all looking at Firdaus at this one, he has already won 4 out of his 4 events, being a great leader and pulling off a great show. I stood up and applauded at Firdaus. Then they said
Olahragawan 2008 ialah ... "REMON dari Rumah Teratai"

I WAS STUNNED, LEFT SHOCKED.. 5 Seconds i was stiff as a rock and i came back to reality Screaming in unbelievable JOY.. This is the Best Ever Achievement that any athletics would dream of having.. and I was given this award.. One of the greatest achievement for me.. This is enough for me.. More than enough.. Being the best is more than i ever wanted.

And The Final Trophy was for the Overall Results.
TERATAI!!

WE WON! WE WON!!! WE FINALLY DID IT!! WE WON TOURNAMENT!!

NOT 1 YEAR!
NOT 2 YEARS!
NOT 3 YEARS!
NOT 4 YEARS!
BUT 5 YEARS!
5 years of patience to lift up the trophy for the purple team (Rumah Teratai).



WE DID IT! ALL TOGETHER!! It was the greatest achievement for a leader. Being able to win it all.. But i wasn't naive about it.. I did went to each of the Leaders and shook their hands in sportsmanship. This is the picture my friend took with all the awards we won that day.



Now, this is the credits for the whole campaign.

THANK YOU

- to my Mom for taking the trouble to be there (although you were an honored guest of the PIBG) to watch me and support me all the way.

- to my juniors, for their unstoppable support when i was on and off the tracks, running, training and even just walking.

- to Hafiz, for taking my place as head of the Red Crescent Society and doing my job very well when i was out there running and involved in activities of my own. As well as for his 100% faith in me. Thank you from the head to toe.

- to Cik Ruzana, for taking your precious time out to actually come to watch us in the stadium. You missed out half the training session of the F1 just to be with us, and I'll take that as a huge sacrifice. It was you, you wanted to be there to watch us. That is just very caring of you teach. Thank your from the bottom of my heart!

SORRY

- to Nazim, my best friend. Dude, this was a race and i'm sorry if i'm the cause of you not getting any medals this year. I'm very sorry if this year was a disappointment to you because of this. We had some close calls. Especially in the 200m race when i over took you the last minute to get the 3rd placing. I'm sorry Naz.. One part of me if just guilty over that.

- to Calvin, another buddy. For not attending your carnival. Dude i had sports day on the same day as your carnival. And going there with my sweating face and smelly body to your school would just spoil your image. So i'm sorry for not being able to be present at the carnival. Really sorry man.

- to The Green House guy, for blocking you/walking on your track at the 4x100m race after passing my baton to the last runner. Although it wouldn't make much difference in the results. It was wrong and i didn't knew you were behind me. I'm sorry man.

- to Firdaus. Firdaus Abu, dude, you are the best athletic our school ever produced. One of the best competitors i would ever dream of having. You having 4 gold and failing to get the Prestigious Athletic of the Year was just wrong man. I'm sorry to see that disappointed look on your face. I'm sorry for taking what we all fought hard to get. It is every athletics dream of getting that award. I'm sorry.

A SPECIAL EMOTIONAL MOMENT

- to my Grandma, for having the thought of me to become a athletic one day, It really strive me to do more than 100%. You are a great person in my life granny. I ran bursting my energy for you. Each prayer i made on that track that day was all for you. I know you were looking down on me from Heaven and watching me run. I hope I made you proud! Thank you Granny.. I love you and Miss you so much.

And to the others who supported me from behind.. Thank you very much i really appreciate your support and your advise.. It made me really happy just to have you there..

Now a small clip made from Kheng Wai.. He really surprised me with it.. It did made me shed a few tear drops just looking at it.. And thank you Team Hawk, Thank your friends.. Thank You Kheng Wai...