ISF World School Sport Games in Normandy, France: by Joanna Sung

My first time competing at the ISF World School Sport Games in Normandy, France garnered unforgettable memories with my teammates both on the court and off the court. Along with my three teammates, we lived in a place similar to a camp trailer in a more rural area. The air smelled fresh and I enjoyed the change of scenery.

If I had to choose, my favorite memory from the tournament would probably be the opening ceremony march. Together, Team USA marched through the streets of France chanting and high-fiving the French pedestrians. Despite the intense heat, I felt full of energy as we bounded through the streets. The people of France were incredibly welcoming, enthusiastic, and many showed up to watch the ceremony. Some people would even wave from their windows. Along with the rest of the table tennis team, I also learned a short hip hop dance from the USA breakdancing coach and performed with the breakdancing team during nations night. If someone were to look at the videos, they can find me in the very last row in the right corner doing what was supposed to be a very cool dance move.

Overall, I finished with one bronze medal in doubles. We won a tough match of 3-2 against China in the quarters and eventually lost to Taiwan 1-3 in the semis. While I did not perform the best in singles and teams, I believe that the two events were a learning experience that will help me in future matches. In teams, USA girls placed fifth overall and I lost in the earlier rounds to an opponent from Romania for singles. Thank you to Coach Maggie for all your help this tournament and the rest of my teammates for always cheering me on. Thank you to Bowmar Sports for their continuous support!

Au revoir

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