Day routine for tournament day at state level

Hi Karan,

Great questions—tournament day routines and mindset can make a big difference, especially for an attacking player.

Tournament Day Routine

Before you arrive:

• Sleep well the night before.

• Eat a light, balanced breakfast—nothing too heavy.

• Pack early: make sure you have your bats, shoes, towel, water bottle, snacks, spare shirt, and any strapping or supports you might need.

Once you’re at the venue:

• Arrive with enough time to settle in and warm up properly.

• Start with some general warm-up: jogging, stretching, shadow strokes to get the body moving.

• Then move to on table warm-up: begin with regular forehand/backhand, then work in some short play, topspins, service practice to get your feel right and then add some point play.

Keep your warm-up focused and purposeful. The goal is to feel comfortable with your timing and movement and get to a level where you are ready to play the first point well.

Dos and Don'ts as an Attacker

✅ DO:

• Trust your spin. If you’re an attacker, topspin is your foundation—focus on quality, not just speed.

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• Watch the opponent closely after your attack—be ready for their counter.

• Adjust your positioning—stay active between points, and keep your weight forward so you’re ready to move in any direction.

🚫 DON’T:

• Don’t go for full power every time—play your percentage shots and build the point.

• Don’t ignore your serve and receive—a good first attack often starts with a good serve or return.

• Don’t panic if your attacks don’t work straight away—stay calm, adapt, and keep pressure on.

• Don’t play on autopilot—think between points. What’s working? What needs changing?

Tournaments are as much about managing yourself as they are about your opponent. Stay focused, stay relaxed, and remember to breathe.