Year 11 student, Clive Luna is the embodiment of excellence and hard work. Just recently he competed at the North Island Badminton Championships in Wellington.
He ended up winning the Under 17 Singles and Doubles titles as well as the Men’s Singles event in the Plate Division of the New Zealand U19 National Championships. Clive said that he felt a bit nervous competing as he went up against an opponent in the finals who he had lost to previously. But the desire to come out on top and redeem himself was enough fuel to help Clive have a superb performance and win.
One of the key components of success is being mentally strong and Clive said that in order for him to stay focused and have a positive headspace, he would sit down by himself and think about his own game and what he wanted to achieve. Instead of watching how other players were performing which he found was intimidating. Clive felt this helped him to stay confident.
He also said that he tried to stay in the moment and play the game as it came to him especially during times when he was finding it a bit tough. Clive will be looking forward to the Waikato International Competition in September and the New Zealand U17 Nationals in October, a tournament where he has won two out of three finals appearances.
It’s definitely one hectic schedule but Clive manages to juggle it all with school and is always putting in that extra effort in everything he does. It would definitely be the icing on the cake for Clive to come out victorious at his last few events for the season.
And no doubt he will do exceptionally well, hopefully celebrating with some real cake.
Shontelle Matano
