After watching Roger Federer's demise over the last couple of years it got me thinking ''When is the right time to quit''? Snooker star Stephen Hendry called it a day recently after he said he couldn't make those long shots anymore where as Steve Davis decided to play on into his fifties and lose matches he would have won in the eighties.
In 2009 I remember starting to feel less enthusiastic about going out to practice and less inclined to go to Marlay Park to run and train. On the table I began to lose the aggression and speed I once had in abundance.
These were all factors in my decision to quit competitive table tennis in Ireland and abroad. I began losing to players I once would have beaten and that started to destroy my confidence so I decided to call it a day.Table Tennis is not a team sport as such as most of the matches you play are single events. You can't be an ageing striker or midfielder and hide amongst your team. Its like boxing, and your out there in the ring face to face with your opponent and you need the speed and agility to perform on the big stage and any weaknesses will soon become clear to not just your opponent but to you and the crowd. Roger Federer on Monday night lost to Tommy Robredo, a player he had beaten 10 times before. Federer is 32 and still shows signs of the days he was untouchable but its less and less now and the ageing meister is looking fragile out on the court and every top 50 player believes they can take him out now. So the Question is ''When should you quit''? The day will come when you have to answer this question. Some are stubborn and others are honest. What will you be?JB
In 2009 I remember starting to feel less enthusiastic about going out to practice and less inclined to go to Marlay Park to run and train. On the table I began to lose the aggression and speed I once had in abundance.
These were all factors in my decision to quit competitive table tennis in Ireland and abroad. I began losing to players I once would have beaten and that started to destroy my confidence so I decided to call it a day.Table Tennis is not a team sport as such as most of the matches you play are single events. You can't be an ageing striker or midfielder and hide amongst your team. Its like boxing, and your out there in the ring face to face with your opponent and you need the speed and agility to perform on the big stage and any weaknesses will soon become clear to not just your opponent but to you and the crowd. Roger Federer on Monday night lost to Tommy Robredo, a player he had beaten 10 times before. Federer is 32 and still shows signs of the days he was untouchable but its less and less now and the ageing meister is looking fragile out on the court and every top 50 player believes they can take him out now. So the Question is ''When should you quit''? The day will come when you have to answer this question. Some are stubborn and others are honest. What will you be?JB
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