Everyone tries to conceal their personal experience, as they are afraid of ridicule. I am no exception. Ridicule can wreak havoc to my sense of self-esteem, and make me feel nervous in whatever I do. A psychological damage of this kind usually lasts for a short while and disappears into my subconscious mind. This is the scenario I like to believe, yet I know the true after-effect of ridicule can last for a much longer time and even create a feeling of inadequacy deep inside me. My conviction in what I have just said is based on a personal tragedy that happened on an overcast Sunday afternoon in June last year.

I had progressed smoothly to get a place in this age group tennis tournament. Along the way, I had no difficulty in routing the ambitions of a few opponents, leaving them bruised and shattered. On this fateful...