1937-05-24 — Page 18

SIAMESE

BADMINTON

SPEED AND STAMINA CARRY THE DAY

COLONY PLAYERS LACK

PRACTICE

(By “ADREM”)

When I saw the Siamese badminton players at practice early last week, I thought that they show- ed considerable promise, but I had no idea that they would do as well as they did against the cream of the Colony's talent. That their second string singles player would beat Oliveira, even though the latter has admittedly fallen off, seem- ed inconceivable enough, but the convincing defeat of Patrick Wong and C. E. Chng, Colony doubles title-holders, and indisputably the finest combina- tion in Hong Kong, at the present moment, has left SIAMESE me not only surprised, but definitely shocked.

THE CHINA MAIL, MAY 24, 1937,

SUCCESSES

Tazio Nuvolari, famous Italian motor-racing driver, above, is reported to be making steady pro- gress after his near escape from death in the Tunis Grand Prix when his car hit a tree at 65 m.p.h..

BALL - GAME

THE FACT THAT MOST OF OUR PLAYERS HAVE BEEN FASCINATES OUT OF TOUCH WITH THE GAME FOR OVER A MONTH IS ~ HARDLY SUFFICIENT EXCUSE FOR THEIR CRUSHING DE. FEATS AND ONE MUST ONLY ARRIVE AT THE CONCLU SION THAT THE STANDARD OF BADMINTON IN THE COLONY LEAVES ROOM FOR A GREAT DEAL OF IMPROVEMENT.

There have been indications during the season just concluded, in Wong, that Hong Kong badminton has improved considerably we thought we had a player good enough to engage anyone in the Far East our doubles combinations, on current form, would take a lot of beating, and yet, what has happened? A team of four play- ers from Siam, where many of us had no idea badminton was even played, arrive in the Colony quite unostentatiously, and proceed to knock all the smugness out of us.

NO UNDERSTANDING

and

Finding Favour Locally

FITNESS MOST ESSENTIAL

(By "ADREM”)

I have been given to understand that through the good offices of Mr. Vilas Osatananda, Hong Kong Clubs will have the opportunity of adding to the sporting activities of their members, the Siamese game,|- So ably demonstrated by the Siamese touring badminton team.

cle and kick a shuttle from one to

the other for great lengths of time. The Siamese game calls for great skill and concentration and should, imagine, provide football players with excellent practice.

CAPTURED IMAGINATION

OPEN PAIRS BOWLS TIES FOR TO-DAY

TWO MATCHES AT K.C.C.

DOCK PAIRS IN

ACTION

This year's Lawn Bowls Open Championships will make a start this afternoon, weather permit- ting, when at the Kowloon Cric- ket Club Green, two games in the Open Pairs Tournament will be played.

H. G. Cooper and A. S. Russett are conceded a good chance of reaching the Next Round, but cannot take any chances against the Kowloon Bowling Green Club pair especially as C. B. Hosking is playing good bowls at present.

In the other game, J. V. Ramsey and J. McKelvie, who played, to- gether last season, should account for F. V. Riberio and J. J. Basto who are in the Second Division of the League, J. J. Basto being one of the leading skips, while Riberio is one of the best No: 38.

The following is the programme for the week:-

To-day

(to be played at Kowloon Cricket Club)

H. G. Cooper and A. S. Russell v H. Stoneham and C. B. Hosking,

3. V. Ramsey and J. McKelvie v J. F. Riberio and J. J. Basto,

To-morrow

(To be played at the Hong Kong Football Club green.)

A. E. Coates and R. Basa 7 A. E.

E. W. Hanlom and J. G. Gill v W. Silkstone and F. Goodwin. Ward and W. K. Way

S. Eccleshall and A. W. Grimmitt v. H. Nish and W. Robson.

E.

Knight and J. Hollidge. W. Hayward and C. H. Gough v

Wednesday

(To be played at the Kowloon Docks Recreation Club).·

W. Gill and G. Duncan ▼ F.A. Ma- chado and C. Roza-Pereira.

V: Peterick and J. Watson A. Warr

and J. Cook,

J. Gibson and J. Ferguson v N. Karenjia and J. Pau.

Thursday

Among other things we have of this lethargic movement on the Their every move- learnt is that, while the short court for them. game is very pretty to watch, and ment indicated fitness to the nth. it gives

a player tremendous degree. They wasted no time be-

Played with a fairly large rattan satisfaction to leave an oppon-tween rallies, they were always the

ball, this game has a great affinity ent floundering with a nicely first to rush to pick up shuttles disguised" drop-shot, this, even which had dropped by the net, dur- to the Chinese game of shuttlecock, when combined with a fair masing the game they were always fore-when several people stand. in a cir- tery of all the other strokes, is ing the pace. not enough to win matches.

I liked Umporn's smashing. Most Our visitors from Siam have players wait until the shuttle has shown us what determination, a reached it maximum height, good eye, hard hitting and tremen-will move back to strike it in that dous physical resources can do to position. Not so Umporn. Like a the most delicately-worked-out style first-class tennis player, he always of play, and although they came to played the shuttle as early as he Hong Kong to learn the game, and could and, no doubt aided by his Rattan balls have been supplied no doubt have carried away with height, smashed while it was still to various badminton clubs and I them, many valuable lessons, we coming up, with the result that he have no doubt that badminton play would do well to take several leaves was able to send the "bird" crashers during the off-season, will take out of their book and adopt many ing over the net before the opposi the opportunity of trying the game of their methods to our own good. tion had any opportunity of anti-that completely captured the ima

Whatever we do in Hong Kong, cipating and getting into position.gination at the various, demonstra (To be played at the Civil Service whether at games or anything else,

tions staged prior to badminton Cricket Club.)*** is taken very much as a matter of Lek's smash was also effective for practices, and matches. ⠀⠀⠀

G. E. Stephens and P. Morgan v W Greig and W. Campbell. course. We attain a certain stan-la different reason, its- well-disguis-

I foresee the Chinese going for: L. Glendinning and W. Glendinning As a combination, dard and until something happensted direction.

this game, to use an Americanism, v J. Hoosen and A. R. Minu. to shake us out of our complacency, frankly, I think that Umporn and in a big way. Perchance we will E. T. Xavier and C. F. Remedios we go the even tenour of our way Lek were the worst pair that have

have an opportunity, at some future J. W Leonard and J. R. Soares, better and think what fine fellows we are. ever beaten such infinitely

date, of sending a team to Siam; to SELTS, OPEN-RINKS Lee. They In my opinion the biggest lesson players than Hui and ́

do unto them, as they did unto learnt from Chart Shaw and com- have practically no understanding us on the badminton courts, in the

last week. pany, is the necessity of keeping very little subtlety and won on their ourselves fitter. How many people speed, ability to serve well and make in Hong Kong ever bother to train, the Hong Kong pair play the game however important the game they that suited them most, namely fast

they learn, are going to play and until we rallies with as little short stuff as account, any lessons

should carry them far, and, in time, have players that are prepared to possible. do this, we must expect to meet If the indoor court which on their I expect to hear of these two fine with defeats at the hands of players, return they propose to advocate to players performing with credit in Charlie Holland (Midland C. and recently presented with who even if not a great deal more the Bangkok authorities, materia other representative games which aC)

Best All-Rounder. skilful in technique than ourselves, lises, and they have the benefit of their success, on this occasion, "Cycling a can stand up to the most gruelling a few more tours to gain experi. should stimulate the Siamese au-Trophy for 1936 at the Royal Al- bert Hall. Holland, who finished game in trying weather, and still ence, I expect the Shaw brothers, thorities, into arranging.

fifth in the Olympic Games : road keep sufficient in reserve to force who, incidently are fine all round.

Many thanks to Mr. Vilas Ostan- race in Berlin laat year, had an home an advantage against tiring sportsmen, to develop into as fine

exponents of the game of badminton anda, Siamese Trade Commissioner, average speed of 22097 m.pl for opponents. Ebben

12 hours TREMENDOUS VITALITY as any in the Far East. They have for allowing us the opportunity of 50 and 100 miles and 12

on which That is what I liked more than all the natural attributes of first-making the acquaintance of these the three trials anything else about the Siamese class players and their adaptability very keen players and excellent event is based record for team their tremendous vitality. None and willingness to place to their best sportsmen.

competition.

1

J

A

APPRECIATION

The following is the draw for the First Round of the Open Rinks Lawn Bowls Championship.

BEST ALL-ROUNDER