I made a very foolish blunder at this year’s sports meeting. My folly cost a girl a chance to win. I owe her an apology.

Dreaded by most of us, the most challenging event of the track-and-field meet is the 3,000-metre race. Without proper prep for it, you will feel as if you were dead by the time you are finishing the ordeal.

There was girls’ race and there was boys’ as well on the day. Two boys and a girl from our class chose to run the gruelling races. We admired them for their bravery so much that we cheered them while they were running.

It was the girl’s turn to participate, so I took it upon myself to root for her. Impressed by her courage and perseverance, I stood by the racetrack, encouraging her and simultaneously timing her.

After Jane had completed 2,000 metres, her face was red. Tired as she was, she ploughed on ahead. As she was passing me, I said enthusiastically to her, “You can make it, Jane.”

She was getting closer and closer to the completion of the race, 2,300, 2,400, 2,500. Our voices became louder and crazier. I thought she was doing her last 200 metres, so I shouted to her, “Rush, Jane! The last 200 metres and you will be the first.” She sped up at my words.

The girl stopped at the finish line, but the other runners were still ploughing ahead on the track. “Oh my God!” I swore. I made a mistake. I had given Jane wrong instructions. It turned out that the girl, like all the other participants, still had had 400 metres to go when I told her she had 200.

The moment the mistake dawned upon me, I could have kicked myself. At the finish line, Jane almost cried her eyes out after a judge announced she was 200 metres short of the completion. My folly ruined her golden opportunity to earn a place in the spectacular 3,000-metre race.

I went over and apologised to Jane without delay. Her torrent of tears left me standing by, broken-hearted. At the time I thought I was the biggest idiot under the sun. How I wished the ground would open up and swallow me whole then and there. So embarrassed was I that I retreated quietly like a thief from the sports field.

Although Jane has forgiven me, the very thought of my stupidity never fails to knot my stomach.