The Unsung Heroes Behind Every Athlete: A Tribute to Parents

You know, I often think back to how my journey in sports began. I was just a kid, barely 8 years old, when my dad introduced me to badminton. He used to work in Airforce, though he couldn't pursue sports professionally, his love for the game was infectious.

I remember starting formal training at 10, but the real magic happened during those evening sessions with dad. We'd practice at home until I was about 15 or 16, primarily because the facilities were expensive to train at, however for me, it allowed me to bond with my father from a young age thanks to badminton. Dad always saw something in me that I couldn't see myself. He'd push me, saying I could make it to the national level. Looking back, his belief in me when I couldn’t see that for myself was what kept me going, especially considering our circumstances

.After retiring from airforce, dad struggled to find work for a few years. Mom was teaching, trying to keep us afloat. I was in middle school when dad took up an operations job at a hotel just to make ends meet. The dream of playing professionally seemed so far away, but my parents... they never let me feel the weight of our struggles, they were pros at hiding it.

Mom had her concerns about my badminton as I was barely home, always shuttling between school and training at merely 14 years old. It wasn't easy for her, but dad was sure about me taking badminton seriously. Being the first in our family to take up sports professionally, we were all navigating the unknown.

I'll never forget that conversation we had when I was in high school. We sat down and talked about my future in sports. I was doing decently well at studies, but badminton was where my heart was. We agreed to give it a real shot after 10th grade, and that's when things got real.

Let me tell you, badminton isn't cheap. The tournaments, the travel, the academy fees – it all comes up to a huge amount. But my parents, they shielded me from all that worry. They'd figure it out somehow, making sacrifices I probably didn't even know about. The prize money from tournaments barely covered one thing.

You know, the odds of making it in sports are slim. Without family backing you up, it's easy to get discouraged. My parents' support, even when things looked bleak, that's what kept me going. Their belief in my dreams, their sacrifices – that's the foundation of every success I've had.

When I look back at my journey, I realise nothing would’ve happened if it wasn’t for my parents. They were the ones who recognized and nurtured my interest in sports from an early age.

I would like to take this opportunity to urge all parents to encourage sports participation from a young age. It is not just about physical fitness, but it teaches the most important aspects in life such as teamwork, discipline, and perseverance. It helps children develop a well-rounded personality, improve mental health, and open doors to potential professional career opportunities in sports.

To all the parents out there, please don’t judge your kids to find success overnight or even in a couple of years. There’s nothing called as overnight success in sports, it takes time, sometimes a few years but more often than not it takes years and years of patience, skill, support, training, coaching and most importantly your belief in your kid. Keep supporting your kids' athletic dreams: you're the real MVPs.

Your support, your sacrifices, your belief – that's what turns dreams into reality. So, here's to you, the unsung heroes behind every athlete's success. We couldn't do it without you. THANKYOU on behalf of every professional athlete!