THE CHINA MAIL. FEBRUARY 14, 1938.
BADMINTON AT THE CROSS-ROADS
is
Izzard, above, of the Middlesex,
bracketed
with Rocha,
of Kwong Wah, as the leading goal- scorer in the Second Division.
Saw,
above, the
Middlesex,
Army and Colony inside-left, has
scored ten times in the First Division of the League.
ASSOCIATION NOT
GIVEN FULL
SUPPORT
STARTLING FACTS FROM
CHAMPIONSHIP.
ENTRIES!
DEPLORABLE SPIRIT PREVAILS
Adolf Heurer Beats Rufo ENTRIES for the second annual badminton cham-
In Whirlwind Bout
Berlin, Yesterday.
pionships of the Colony having closed, the draws for the various events and the first three blocks of matches have been announced.
WITH THE TYPICALLY HONG KONG SPIRIT OF “MAS- KEE" WELL IN EVIDENCE, THERE WAS AT ONE TIME CON- CIRCLES AS TO MISGIVINGS IN OFFICIAL SIDERABLE Adolf Heurer, the German light-heavyweight boxing cham- pion, was featured in a thrilling clash with Charles Rufo, the Bel-WHETHER SUFFICIENT ENTRIES WOULD BE RECEIVED TO gian champion, in a 12-round eliminating bout here last night, the ENABLE THE TOURNAMENTS TO BE HELD. former securing the verdict on a very close points decision.
CLOSE TUSSLE IN
EMPIRE
GAMES
the
decision, In securing the German boxer has earned the right to meet the present holder of the European light-heavyweight title, Gustave Roth, of Belgium:
Following an extension of a week and a threat to cancel every- thing if more support was not forthcoming, and, without doubt a good deal of individual “shroffing" by the enthusiastic secretary and committee of the Hong Kong Badminton Association, enough people were finally rounded up to enable each event to be held..
new
Nevertheless, to those in the Colony with the interests of bad-
a comparatively Last night's fight was one of the minton
thrilling exhibitions most
ever game here close to their hearts, witnessed in Germany, both boxers the response of players, whatever being at their best and shaking their standards, to an opportunity each other in turn with terrific of pitting their strength against fellow enthusiasts outside their blows.
own clubs, must have been ex- ceedingly disappointing.
Sydney, Saturday. Australia's first win to-day in At the end of the 11th round the
One would have at least thought the British Empire Games was spectators found it very difficult
when players in the Hop-Step-and-Jump when to pick the winner, but in the final that entries would have been bet- Jack Metcalfe won the event as stanza, the Belgian, who had dis-ter than last year,
played a superiority throughout, could, and did, plead "ignorance.” anticipated, but he failed to bet-dropped his defence for a few mo- Not necessarily ignorance of ter his Empire Games record of ments and was rocked off the ball game but rather ignorance of their 51 feet 2 inches.
of his feet by a terrific barrage own ability. of blows, the Belgian eventually complexes. taking a clout on the chin which sent him down for a count of two.
A further win was recorded for Australia when her team of four finished first in the Women's 660 Yards relay, clocking 1 min. 15 In a final burst, which led to a 2-10 secs. England took second
terrific exchange of blows and place and Canada secured third brought the capacity packed sports place.
England came into the picture in the Women's High Jump in which Miss Dorothy Adam, the British Champion and European record holder won with a height of 5 ft. 3 ins. which is a new Em- pire Games and Australian record. Her European figure, however, is 5 ft. 4 % ins.
The Shot-Putt resulted
in
a
triumph for Fouche of South Africa, who threw the lead 48 ft. 6ins. and another South African Duplessis won the Pole Vault with a leap of 13 ft. 54 ins. for a new Australian record.
—STIRRING RACE
A stirring race was witnessed in the mile event in, which John Alford, captain of the Welsh team. and Welsh record holder and champion for the distance for the last four years, won after a great spurt.
He finished four yards in front of Fred Backhouse, of Australia, who in turn was two yards in front of Boot, of New Zealand.
Alford's time of 4 mins. 11 6-8 secs is a new Empire Games and Australian record and is the best ever returned by Alford. His pre- vious best was 4 mins. 17 secs.
hall to its feet in a wild roar of delight and excitement, Heurer de- eided his right to meet Gustave Roth.-Trans-Ocean.
the
In effect, inferiority
LITTLE PROGRESS MADE That to a certain extent is un- derstandable. Whereas the maj- the ority of players constituting teams in the greater proportion of the Clubs have only some two or three years' experience of badmin- ton, there are others, mostly stud- ents from Malaya, who had played in not only in League but also competitions, and were thus fully aware of their standards with re- lation to members of other clubs, having been opposed to these play- ers in the local Leagues.
These people were definitely far of the locals, The Fanling Hunt and Race Club | above the standard have arranged a Sweep in connection with one or two exceptions, as with the St. John Cup, to be competed their standings in the League illus- for on Sunday, Marsh 20, at Fanling-
Tickets may be obtained fromtrated and, sorry to relate, apart Messrs. Thomson & Co. and St. John from the representatives of Club Ambulance Headquarters, Tai Hang de Recreio, they are still superior. Road, Causeway Bay.
ST. JOHN BRIGADE'S ST. JOHN CUP
A poor compliment to the prowess of Hong-Kong games players.
This fact notwithstanding, with of another Canada won the mile relay when the added confidence.
badminton her four representatives returned season of competitive
one would have the time of 4 mins, 16 9-10 secs, behind them,
thought that the entries this year The 100 kilometres cycling road-would at least have shown a slight of increase, especially as there has race was won by Binneman, South Africa, who was clocked at been no lack of enthusiasm in the 2 hours. 53 mins. 29-6-10-secs. Leagues this year, which have Brown, of New Zealand, was sec- been more open and interesting end in 2 hours, 53 mine. 29 secs. than ever before. while Jones of England, was third in 2 hours, 53 minutes, 29 9-10
Becs.
The 1,000 metres sprint scratch race was won by Gray, of Austra- lia, while Porter, of Australia, and Giles, of New Zealand, were second and third Reuter.
In actual fact in only one event has any increase been shown the Mixed Doubles. The Singles and Doubles both show a decrease of seven entries.
STARTLING FACT
We will asume for the argument that the question of finance does not enter into it--the fees are very
TLITIKELE
..
SOUTH CHINA XI TO MEET CORINTHIANS.
Strong Side For Next Saturday's Game
South China's team to play the Corinthians next Saturday was chosen last night. The combination
js:
Tam Kwon-hon; Mak Shui-hon, Lee Tin-sang; Lau Hing-choy; Lim Tak-po; Leung Wing chui; Yeung Shui-yick, Fung King-cheong (cap- tain), Chan Tak-fai, Lai Shui-wing, Cheong Moon-wing.
Reserves. Lau Mau, Leung In- chuen, Lee Kwok-wai, Eau Chung- shan, Tay Kwei-liang.
what
reasonable in any event then is the reason for the appar- ent lack of enthusiasm?
An analysis of the men's singles reveals the startling fact that of the 12. entries, no fewer than six are from the "B" Division, three from Free Lances and a similar number from Kowloon Tong.
Their most optimistic support- ers will hardly concede
any of these players, with the possible exception of J. L. Anderson, much of a chance. They themselves probably feel the same way about It And yet theirs is the spirit-to- becommended. An adventurous spirit which places their love of the game and their desire to learn before any prospect of possible gain.
The six players from the Senior Division, without exception, repre- sent the cream of the talent of the three most powerful teams in the Colony, University, Recreio and Chinese "y":
The conclusion to be drawn therefore is that the majority of Colony badminton players have not entered because they did not feel reasonably certain of winning a prize.
What a deplorable spirit!.
There is little more to be said. While that attitude persists, the
·local association might just as well pack up as the people-for- whom they cater are not worth troubling about.