Part-292
James chuckled, feeling a warm flush of pride at the pliment. “That’s quite the pliment.”
“Just stating the truth,” Saimum replied with a nod before returning to his team, a glimmer of petitiveness in his eyes.
---
Once Saimum rejoined his teammates, the air shifted back to seriousness. One of his teammates leaned in, a mix of excitement and apprehension in his voice. “So, what’s your read on them?”
Saimum crossed his arms, his expression ptive as he regarded Banani High. “They’re good—really good. Ryan’s teique is sharp, even though he’s not physically the stro. If you show any weakness, he’ll take you down.” He paused, gauging the reas of his teammates. “Nabi was a national champion, sirls' team will struggle against her. Sourov’s also a tough oppo—aggressive and skilled.”
He took a moment to s the Banani team again, his gaze lingering on James. “But the most dangerous one is James. He’s strong, fast, and uable. If we ’t tain him, we’ll lose.”
One of Saimum’s teammates, a muscur boy with a buzz amed Faiq, cracked his knuckles and grinned. “I’ll handle him. If we don’t shut that guy down, it’s over for us.”
Saimum hough a flicker of crossed his face. “Just remember, he’s not an easy target. You’ll o keep yuard up.”
---
The referee called the teams to their starting positions, and the atmosphere shifted from friendly rivalry to palpable tension. James felt the weight of Saimum's assessment hanging over him, a mixture of determination and trepidation c through him. This was a ce to prove himself, not just to Saimum and the Tejgaon team, but to himself.
The crowd roared as the first matches began. The bright lights of the arena illumihe mat, creating an almost surreal battlefield. James took a deep breath, tering himself as he watched the first matfold.
The Banani girls’ team against Tejgaon’s female petitors, and he could see Nabi moving with grad precision, her movements sharp and deliberate. The match was fierce, and James admired how Nabi’s experieransted into quick, decisive as.
“e on, Nabi!” Ryan shouted from the sidelines, his voice a mixture of encement and fervor.
James felt his heart race as he watched Nabi take down her oppo with a well-executed throw. The crowd erupted into cheers, but James could see Saimum watg closely, his brow furrowed as he took mental notes.
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As the matches tinued, James’s foever wavered. He was acutely aware of Saimum’s team’s strategies and dynamics. Each match served as a lesson, revealing the strengths and weaknesses of his oppos. The Banani team was riding high on their initial success, but James knew better than to uimate their rivals.
Finally, it was time for the middleweights to take the mat. The air was electric, a tangible buzz of anticipation as the announcer called out the names.
“ up, representing Banani High, we have James!”
James stepped forward, the cheers of his teammates buoying him. He g Ryan, who gave him an encing nod. With o deep breath, James stepped onto the mat, feeling the weight of both expectation aermination on his shoulders.
