“The world of badminton had modified in each side, and strolling onto a present court docket was like a time warp,” stated Webster.
“Trying again I had been taking part in in black-and-white TV, and now stepped into full-colour HD. It was merely superior.”
Within the years since, Webster has usually been on the tip of lopsided scorelines.
“Once I first entered the tour, I had goals of extra success, however it’s a robust tide to swim towards once I by no means performed as a junior,” he stated.
“A few instances I needed to play with flu or migraine and endure the implications. However I settle for it.
“It is akin to climbing these large mountains once more, when unhealthy climate beat me again, and I went up once more for a fifth try in complete adversity, scaring myself to the purpose of my toes trembling me off the ice footholds that I reduce, and pushing past the place I couldn’t reverse.”
Nonetheless, there have been memorable moments.
There was the primary time he received a recreation on the BWF circuit, when he beat the Netherlands’ Rakesh Sharma 23-21 earlier than shedding 26-28, 15-21. It was 2022 and his opponent was 34 years previous then.
“Being out on a badminton court docket when my opponents are usually 40 to 50 years youthful, individuals inform me that could be a victory,” stated Webster.
“When I’ve carried out properly and the umpire says: ‘respect’, I really feel too that I’m taking part in for them, since most of them are former gamers they usually too should keep engaged with the ‘dependancy’.
“There’re so many individuals that want they have been on court docket taking part in as a result of they both have been badminton gamers or wish to be a badminton participant. However for a lot of causes they cannot play … I really feel like that I am fulfilling their need.”
Along with his story garnering some consideration on-line, followers have requested wefies and spare shirts whereas others ask how he is maintained his mobility to play a sport that may be powerful on the physique.
“A lot of that’s as a result of my entire household have been extremely lively. I by no means stopped transferring as a child, I climbed timber, cycled 1000’s of miles a 12 months, 200 miles in a day and went climbing most weekends,” he stated.
“It made me powerful and sturdy (and) my thought processes haven’t modified or aged in any means.”