At the beginning of May, I played in a basketball tournament in Kerala, even though I’m from Mumbai. Our school took us to this event and trained us for success. It was for the Under-14 category and one of my first big tournaments outside my city. Traveling to Kerala was exciting but also a bit nerve-wracking because I wasn’t sure what to expect. I just wanted to do my best and enjoy the games, stepping out of my comfort zone.
The basketball scene in Kerala was very different from Mumbai. The crowd was loud and the players were strong, which made every match challenging. One game was especially close—I think we lost by just a couple of points. It was intense, and I learned how important it is to stay focused until the very last second. Playing against new teams helped me understand my strengths and the areas I need to work on.
Moreover, the Kerala teams were much more competitive than I had expected, and it created a sense of spirit that made me want to give my very best throughout the tournament. Although we didn’t qualify for the semi-finals, we managed to secure two wins that really boosted our confidence. So, this was not a loss, but a valuable learning experience that we will always cherish in the years we continue to play basketball. (Humbly, I received two “Player of the Match” awards, which motivated me to keep pushing through.)
Besides the matches, I got to try some local food and meet kids from different parts of the state. It was cool to see how basketball brings people together, even from far away. Overall, the tournament was a great experience, and apart from basketball, it taught me a lot about Kerala as well. Now, I can’t wait for the next opportunity to play in a tournament like this again.
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