Akari Chargers’ Mereophe “Fifi” Sharma has discovered “a more altruistic purpose” after transitioning to the professional ranks, as opposed to the anxiety and pressure she constantly faced while still with the De La Salle University (DLSU) Lady Spikers.
She shared this in a statement on Instagram, responding to the online criticism she received following a recent interview with a sports magazine.
In the interview, Fifi compared her collegiate and professional careers, stating that, “I feel like moving into the pro scene alleviated, actually, a lot of the pressure. Akala ko rin it would be a good place to settle down and chill, pero it’s not; it’s the opposite.”
“Nag-iba lang ‘yung goal ko kasi in the UAAP, I felt the constant need to prove myself na I have to be deserving of this position, I have to prove myself to the coaches, I have to prove myself to the fans, to my teammates, to my seniors, but when I went pro, parang I have nothing to prove,” she added.
La Salle fans did not take these statements well, and they quickly became a topic of discussion on X. Some interpreted her words as “ungratefulness” toward her Lady Spiker roots, while others brought up her unexpected departure from the team to turn pro a few years ago, a decision she later clarified on Instagram.
“My decision to turn pro, as I have said again and again, was a personal decision. I felt like it was time to want more for myself. I have always been an ambitious person, and I have always loved challenging myself. I dream very big,” Fifi said.
The young star opened up about how difficult it was to make such a decision but has since found the purpose behind it.
“I knew I wouldn’t be an easy path to take, but I am happy and proud of myself for being strong enough. And I am happy that I have experienced more life outside of volleyball,” she said.
While she continues to strive for excellence, Fifi emphasized that goals aren’t mutually exclusive—fun and pressure can co-exist.
“Turning pro, it gave me the opportunity to look at the sport in a different light. People gave me the opportunity because they trusted me to be an impactful player, and that, for me, provided a sense of purpose and confidence that made me enjoy playing the sport of volleyball more,” she said.
“Pressure will always be there; it’s a given. But I found myself happier playing my sport because I knew people depended on me and they trusted me. A more altruistic purpose, and that gave me a newfound love for the sport. One that made me appreciate it on a deeper level,” she continued.
She shared that this fresh perspective was something she eagerly expressed in the recent interview.
The post Fifi Sharma finds new purpose after turning pro, admits pressure at DLSU first appeared on Fastbreak.
0 comments: