“Badminton happened by accident,” said 65-year-old Daniel. He only played when younger but didn't continue after. His wife however, enjoyed the game. She kept asking him to join her, but at the time, he wasn't keen. However, of those times she asked, he changed his tune and took it up. “I am just a social player.” Since five years ago, he has stayed on playing once a week on Saturdays, however, his wife has turned her attention to other activities including yoga and Zumba. “I now play with my wife's friends!” laughed the father of two.
He plays about five to six games each time with a group of around 20 players. In the group, he is the second oldest (“the other guy is 67 or 68”), while there are some younger than 20. “We match our abilities. Those not that good play together. I normally play with all the ladies, because they are the same standard as me.” His group would occasionally arrange friendly competitions with other groups too. He shared, “I am just doing it for fitness.” Besides playing badminton, he also goes to the gym three times a week, which he started doing last year. He originally started doing yoga with his wife but after reading about losing muscle mass as one ages, he thought lifting weights would be a better option to maintain his muscle. “Now I don't have time for yoga. I left my wife again!” He mainly does free weights, including squats carrying 120lbs of weight (not including the weight of the bar), bench presses, barbell rows, overhead presses and deadlifts. Daniel would warm up using lesser weights and build up to his “working weight” where he then does a few sets of several repetitions. The total workout which comprises of three exercises is something he learned from the Internet. He was told he had osteoarthritis of the knee and not to do any strenuous exercise, but that didn’t stop him. “I felt if I didn’t do anything I wouldn’t be able to build up my muscle. I feel better now and I am fitter than before.” He also plays the occasional golf. This year, Daniel trekked Mount Rinjani, Lombok and got to the apex on the second day. “It is a once in a lifetime thing,” he shared. “I try to do at least one epic thing each year.” |