Hi Deep your absolutely right, performance goals are much more healthy and help lead to better performance and being more relaxed in match play. I would say against your old team mate your just putting a bit too much pressure on yourself to win in a dominant fashion. What’s more important is that you are progressing your game and developing, if you are winning anyway against him that’s great, I wouldn’t worry if you are dropping the odd set or if it goes to the 5th now and then, in table tennis even when you are the stronger player it’s difficult not to drop points and sets.
Also when playing against someone who is an old team mate you need to remember that he will know your game well and be very used to your style and serves etc, so the matches between you will always be more even than if you play someone of the same level who doesn’t know your game. When playing close friends or team mates it’s always a more difficult scenario, so don’t stress and just focus on doing the right things in the matches 🙂
