>>53057126It's really easy to forget since Ash is the MC but people who make it to the Leagues are the 1% of Trainers. Tons of people just bubble and flounder, and this was specially pronounced back then during the OG anime since they hadn't sanitized things yet and even so there was that one scene of that guy lashing out at Ash because he couldn't make it.
There was tons of characters during OG that said they'd see and met Ash at the League for sure who then simply just didn't make it.
Just look at Gary then. Despite how much of a hotshot he was he ended up choking like a bitch.
Ash consistently placed Top 8 in his league runs. Despite how much people gave shit him for not winning a League IRL that genuinely makes it a 1% Trainer in-story.
