Hey Lem, firstly well done on a good result it’s always nice to see the rewards for hard work! Mentality and focus is so so important in table tennis and there is no quick fix to improve this area but you can do a few things that will help you. Some fairly simple things like eating well before and during the tournament, so nothing heavy making sure you have some high energy snacks, like nuts and banana’s etc. Also being sure to stay hydrated which is probably even more important, this will help you keep focus too.
Other things to help maintain focus are just thinking about a couple of key tactics or points to get right during a game and not overloading yourself with too many things in your head, this helps keep the mind clear and with a focus on getting the main important aspects correct. Lastly I would say, experience in these types of events will be the number one thing that will help, you will learn how you need to prepare best for you personally. Some people need to put headphones in and get into their own world, others like to chat to other players, some like to get fresh air etc, so find what helps you relax between games and recover. Even in a limited time you can get a routine that helps you stay more fresh mentally.
I hope some of those tips can help straight away and others will take a little time to formulate yourself, but keep up the good work Lem!! 🙂
