Badminton
Captain’s Report – Angelina Lee (Year 12)
Saturday 23 March marked an important day for numerous Pymble badminton teams as it was the final match before the Grand finals and playoffs in two weeks’ time. Pymble 2 had a riveting game against Abbotsleigh 3. The first doubles match was tightly contested, resulting in a narrow defeat for Pymble at 20 to 22. However, Pymble swiftly turned the tide with a victory in the first singles, triumphing by a substantial margin of 21 to 12. Despite a setback in the second doubles, where we lost 16 to 21, Pymble staged yet another remarkable comeback, securing a win in the second singles at 21 to 17. The final doubles match concluded with a score of 15 to 10 in Pymble’s favour. With an overall victory of 3 to 2, Pymble emerged triumphant, securing a spot in the playoffs in two weeks’ time.
Game stress is a challenge in any sport, especially before important games like Grand finals and playoffs. To help our badminton players prepare, we interviewed one of our coaches, Emily Tan, to share some invaluable tips.
During stressful moments in the game, how do you help players manage pressure and stay focussed?
During stressful moments in the game, my approach is to address the external pressures that surround the game itself. While the game may seem like the focal point, it’s often the expectations from parents, teammates, and themselves that contribute to stress. For older players, typically in Years 10 to 12, they tend to be quite independent. In these moments, I remind them of the things we’ve practiced in training and emphasise the importance of trusting themselves to make the right decisions. It’s crucial for them to understand that making mistakes is a natural part of the game, but what matters most is recognising those mistakes, learning from them, and being able to move forward. By focusing on continuous improvement rather than perfection, we can navigate through stressful situations with resilience and composure.
What is your favourite thing about coaching at Pymble?
One of the most heartwarming moments I’ve had as a coach is working with students from Years 7 to 12 and witnessing their growth as players, along with improvements they’ve made simply because they love the sport. It’s incredibly rewarding to see how their passion translates into progress on the court. Additionally, building relationships with students has been immensely fulfilling. It’s fascinating because, as a coach, you occupy a unique role—you’re not a parent or a teacher, but you still have the opportunity to make a positive impact on their lives, even if it’s in subtle ways.
A special thanks to Emily for sharing her insight with us as well as all the coaches for their guidance throughout the season on Saturday games and training.
A reminder to all players that there are no matches scheduled for this Saturday 30 March due to the Easter long weekend. However, please note that play offs and Grand finals will take place on Saturday 6 April, with the top four teams in each division competing. Congratulations to all players for an incredible season.
We would like to wish the following teams the best of luck who will be in the Grand final on Saturday 6 April 2024 playing off for first and second:
Pymble 2, Pymble 3, Pymble 4, Pymble 5, Pymble 6, Pymble 7, Pymble 9, Pymble 10, Pymble 11, Pymble 13, Pymble 17, Pymble 20, Pymble 21, Pymble 22, Pymble 23, Pymble 24, Pymble 26, Pymble 31, Pymble 32, Pymble 33, Pymble 34, Pymble 35
Results from Saturday 23 March
| Team | Opponent | Result | Current Placing |
| Pymble 1 | Meriden 2 | Lost 0 to 5 | 5th |
| Pymble 2 | Abbotsleigh 3 | Won 3 to 2 | 4th |
| Pymble 3 | Meriden 5 | Lost 0 to 5 | 3rd |
| Pymble 4 | Abbotsleigh 8 | Won 4 to 1 | 1st |
| Pymble 5 | Abbotsleigh 12 | Won 4 to 1 | 1st |
| Pymble 6 | Ravenswood 6 | Won 4 to 1 | 2nd |
| Pymble 7 | Loreto Normanhurst 8 | Won 5 to 0 | 1st |
| Pymble 8 | Pymble 10 | Won 3 to 2 | 6th |
| Pymble 9 | Ravenswood 9 | Won 4 to 1 | 3rd |
| Pymble 10 | Pymble 8 | Lost 2 to 3 | 4th |
| Pymble 11 | Ravenswood 10 | Won 5 to 0 | 1st |
| Pymble 12 | Abbotsleigh 28 | Lost 0 to 5 | 7th |
| Pymble 13 | Abbotsleigh 27 | Won 3 to 2 | 2nd |
| Pymble 14 | Abbotsleigh 31 | Won 5 to 0 | 5th |
| Pymble 15 | Abbotsleigh 32 | TBC | 7th |
| Pymble 16 | MLC School 15 | Won 4 to 1 | 5th |
| Pymble 17 | Abbotsleigh 40 | Won 5 to 0 | 4th |
| Pymble 18 | Meriden 26 | Lost 1 to 4 | 5th |
| Pymble 19 | Abbotsleigh 42 | Lost 1 to 4 | 7th |
| Pymble 20 | Abbotsleigh 46 | Won 4 to 1 | 2nd |
| Pymble 21 | Loreto Normanhurst 21 | Won 5 to 0 | 1st |
| Pymble 22 | Ravenswood 17 | Won 4 to 1 | 4th |
| Pymble 23 | Ravenswood 18 | Won 3 to 2 | 3rd |
| Pymble 24 | Loreto Normanhurst 18 | Won 5 to 0 | 3rd |
| Pymble 25 | Ravenswood 19 | Lost 1 to 4 | 5th |
| Pymble 26 | Abbotsleigh 55 | Won 3 to 2 | 4th |
| Pymble 27 | Mount St Benedicts 03 | Lost 0 to 5 | 8th |
| Pymble 28 | Abbotsleigh 59 | Lost 0 to 5 | 5th |
| Pymble 29 | Loreto Normanhurst 20 | Lost 2 to 3 | 7th |
| Pymble 30 | PLC Sydney 27 | Lost 2 to 3 | 5th |
| Pymble 31 | Tara 22 | Won 4 to 1 | 4th |
| Pymble 32 | Ravenswood 22 | Won 3 to 2 | 1st |
| Pymble 33 | Abbotsleigh 64 | Won 3 to 2 | 3rd |
| Pymble 34 | Loreto Normanhurst 25 | Lost 1 to 4 | 2nd |
| Pymble 35 | Ravenswood 25 | Won 4 to 1 | 3rd |
Rachelle Davis
Sports Co-ordinator – Badminton