Never be depressed, sad or lose hope

by Prashanta Priyadarshi
(Noida, Uttar Pradesh, India)

I am an advanced player playing in Team Tennis Academy of Delhi in India.

It was a day when I was going for selection in Apollo tyres mission challenge 2018.

When I reached there I saw many players, some of which don't know how to play and some were good players.

They all have in mind that to be a good player and represent their country. I also have same in mind.

The selection contained three sessions
1. Tennis
2. Physical
3. Mental

The selection started and Mahesh Bhupathi came in with other coaches. They started with the strokes then volleys and then volleys and smash.

I was good in every thing. But there were players better than me.

I was there till last round but knocked out of it.

But there was still hope that I would be selected on the fitness basis because fitness is about 70% of the tennis and tennis technique is only 30% in the modern game.

But there was no fitness test. I was hurt at that time and thought about why my tennis is not good. I blamed myself for it and thought why can't I. I felt like a beginner player.

The whole day I was sad and thought why can't I. I was depressed and didn't know what to do and thought that I should leave the game because if I (an advanced player) can't be selected in under-14 year age group then what should I do in my whole life. I was just wasting my parent's money.

I told my father about it and the whole story and why I wanted to leave this game. My father was also depressed because he has many expectations for me.

He said: "OK.

If you want to leave this game then do it. But listen to me once; if you want to do anything in your life don't be depressed and don't let your hope down.

Because hope is the main thing in your life. If there is hope then you could do anything in your life.

And don't be afraid of failure because failure is the pillar of success."

These words from my father had touched me and I thought I was lacking hope. And from that time I thought that I will not leave this game and told that to my father.

Of course he was happy too.

I took it as a challenge and thought that I would be a champion one day. I practiced hard and hard and never lost hope even if I lost a match.

I kept working hard which gave me a better result and I am now a better player than ever.