1940-01-19 — Page 25

THE CHINA MAIL, JANUARY 19, 1940

BADMINTON

NOTES

IMPROVEMENT TO MOST COURTS NECESSARY

Standard Will Not Be Raised Until This Is Done

EXAMPLE OF K.C.C.

AND RECREIO

(By “ADREM")

I COMMENTED RECENTLY on the smoothness with which League badminton was being conducted this season, which fact I attributed to the keenness of the clubs con- cerned.

I have since had my attention drawn to the slackness. of these clubs, in the respect that although badminton is played regularly, some of their courts are, quite unnecessarily, hardly fit to be played on.

Badminton is a game which is not dependent on weather conditions and is consequently of immense value in the matter of regular exercise and re- creation.

The fact that it is played indoors, however, combined with the difficulties which accom- pany a game in which artificial lighting is used, make it imperative that the lighting and general conditions are as near perfect as circumstances permit.

ONLY TWO-GOOD COURTS

It is in this connection that clubs have definitely been slack. To my, recollection there are only two courts in the Colony on which the necessary effort has been made. They are Recrelo and K.C.C.

The improvement this season in the former .club is astonishing, and, when one stop to . consider the matter, so little was necessary

to achieve this improvement.

The lighting now 18 nearly perfect They have the usual form of side lights but by screening the ends players are ..not troubled by direct glare.

Both ends of the court are covered by green screens, which, I admit, could be higher, but nevertheless make a big differ ence to the speed with which it is possible to "sight" a smash or a drive.

The surface is the most pleasing feature. All semblance of slipperiness has been ob-

"A" DIVISION

CHUNG WAH FARE QUITE WELL

(By "ADREM")

There was little of note in "A"

·Division, two matches which had little bearing on the League being played.

Recreio, however, playing without J. J.

· Remedios, did well to beat University "B" as convincingly as they did. Oliveira and Silva were in Irresistible form to win all three games very decisively, whilst L. A. Carvalho and Nick Beltrao only lost one game, and that after a hard struggle.

Far more interesting, notwithstanding the seemingly crushing defeat of Chung Wah,

was their Axture with Chinese "Y," now acknowledged as the greatest menace to University "A.."

Some of the games provided an excellent standard of badminton and the improvement apparent in the Chung Wah team appears to indicate a success or two before the end of the season.

Their best pair were the jockeys, C. F. Chiu and S. C. Liang. Losing their first game of the evening, they played so much better subsequently that they did not meet with another reverse.

W. H. Choy and S. S. Li, also played well against C. Lau and T. C. Lau and only lost, after a great tussle, by 19-21.

TO-DAY'S

MATCHES

K.C.C.

viated by the regular application of soda and water which removes all the grease and yet does not damage the floor-actually the noor takes polish much better after such treatment.

BADMINTON-CUM-SKATING!

After playing on most local courts, where, In addition to one's other troubles, one has to be something of a skater, a game on this type of surface has to be experienced to be appreciated!

K.C.C. has similar lighting and their dark screens are perfect. Biggest drawback at the moment is the floor. On Wednesday in difficult to keep a footing that the standard, the League match against V.R.C., it was so

it might have done. not unnaturally, never reached the heights

Such is the keenness of K.C.C. to get their court into the finest possible condition, how ever, that I have little doubt that this mat- ter will soon be rectified.

A SIMILARITY IN NAMES !

There are many local badmin- ton players who are under the impression that the A. Chong, who partners Patrick Wong In the Chinese "Y" team, is the partner with whom Wong won the doubles title some years ago. This is not correct; Chng, the man In question, has left the Colony.

POOR SHOWING OF K.C.C.

BADMINTON

PAIRINGS

Following are leading pairings in the three division of the Badminton League:-

“A” DIVISION

Gamee P. L. W.

C. Au and H. Koh (C.Y.M.C.A.)........ # 0. T. J. Ong and F. Koh (Chinese

Y.M.C.A.)

P. S. Bun and M. B. Lim (Univer-

sity "A")

C. K. Lee and H. F. Chan (Univer-

sity "A")

P. H. Wong and A. Chong (Chiness

V.M.C.A.)

P. K. Hul and K. L. Yong (Univer-

sity "A")

M. A. Oliveira and A. M. Silva

(Recreio)

M. A. Oliveira and J. J. Remedios

(Recreio)

(By "ADREM") Only one match was

in played

awaited Mixed Doubles Division, the keenly-L. A. Carvalho and A. M. Silva

fixture between University

and Recreio "A" being postponed ow- ing to the indisposition of several members of the latter team.

I expected K.C.C, and Talkoo to have a great struggle but much to my surprise, the If I sat down to write a criticism of all latter team were only able to win one game. the courts in the Colony which could be In fairness to them, however, it must be made as good as these two but which stated that they were not at full strength, haven't simply because of slackness, I although how far the presence of their re- is available. I can do no better than to re- should probably need far more space thangular mixed players would have affected commend that badminton conveners make

the result is problematicall

a study of conditions at either Recreio or K.C.C. and thus ascertain what can be done at small expense and little trouble,

A DEBT

In the interests of badminton, with special regard to possible improvement in standard, this much is owing to the Association which has tried so hard and thus far so efficiently to encourage this comparatively youthful Jocal game.

"B" DIVISION

(Recreio) ... P. H. Wong and P. C. Lau (Chinese

Y.M.C.A.)

K. 5. Yeo and K. L. Hul (Univer-

alty "B")

T. C. Chiu and S. L. Young (Uni.

versity "B")

Neither Mr. and Mrs. Kevan, nor Miss Harker were able to turn out and, in conse quence, three players made their first apH. pearances in League badminton.

J. L. Anderson and Miss Stokes, however, should have done better than they did.

The Taikoo team took full advantage of their opportunities and only Gillies and Miss Cunningham met with defeat. Clarke and Mrs. Beattle, and Mr. and Mrs. Main were in great form and were never-extended,

ST. JOHN'S ONLY TEAM

TO REMAIN UNBEATEN

(By “ADREM") -

MOST NOTABLE badminton result of the week was the victory of St. John's over King's College in “B” Division. This success takes St. John's to the head of the table, they being the only team to have retained an unbeaten record.

So far as I can tell at this stage, St. Teresa's and Club de Recreio, both their chief challengers are likely to be

of whom have only lost once, whilst King's, although they have slipped considerably, cannot be left out of the reckoning despite their two reverses in six matches.

As I anticipated, when weighing up the chances of St. John's and King's, the latter's weak third string proved too big a handicap for the other two pairs, who, although play ing gallantly, were unable to win more than two games apiece.

I was surprised at the lack of success of the Kwok brothers and Henry Eardley and R. Beavan, having regard also, to the fact that they were playing on their own court. I can only attribute their comparative failure to the strenuous efforts of S. P. Chan and W. C. Chung and K. L. Lui and H. T. Wool

CHAN'S FINE FORM

RECREIO EXTENDED

stage they were definitely anxious, to say Recreio did not have matters all their own way against Kowloon Tong and at one the least!

The suburbanites hung on grimly through- out two rounds by which stage they had gained the confidence which Recreio were rapidly losing

The situation at the commencement of the third round WAS interesting. Previously Mackay and Fletcher had badly shaken H. Gonsalves and Marques by overhauling them on the post and beating them 21—18. It was quite on the cards therefore that Lee and Ko, who rank as Kowloon Tong's best pain, would repeat the performance,

and Fletcher to beat Barros and Xavier, a It would then have been left to Mackay

their showing in the previous game. task of which they were quite capable on

With Ko playing in a most lackadaisical manner, however, Lee was put off his game and disruption in combination proved fruitful ground for the accurate game of Gonsalves and some neat touches by his partner.

THRILLING, GAME

Chan, I am told, was in great form. He was almost impossible to beat outright and his cunning disguise of pace and direction Next game between Mackay and Fletcher kept his opponents guessing all the time. and Barros and Xavier, proved the most Chung, given this fine example, rose to un-thrilling of the evening. Expected heights.

Although eventually beaten by 11-14, the Lal and Woo's chief asset was their com-Kowloon Tong pair were actually "making" bination. Lul'a smashing was deadly, and more points than their opponents. It was

རྟ:,་,་

Liang 'and' Lo were outclassed, proving much too slow in all respects to have any hope of winning games against a team of the calibre of St. John's.

he was given ample opportunity to use this level pegging until the visiting pairing stroke frequently, an-Woo's beautifully-wached 14 but then a. series of Kowloon Following is the programme for to-angled drop-shots forced St. John's to push Tong serving errors and a long string of day's Mixed Doubles

up numerous weak returns which were just points which Xavier ran off on his service, Badminton

what the doctor ordered for a man with a decided the Issue and although the visiting League matches and some of the teams. smashi

nair, fought desperately, they were unable Recreio "B"

v Recrefo "A":

to retrieve the situation. St. John's V Recreio "A":-Mina M, Silva and M, A. - Oliviera;` Miss O. Ribeiro and J. J. Reme-

Norman Bmith and Peter Wilson were, dlost L. A. Carvalho and Miss M. Ribeiro. the heroes of the evening, their three games, Recreio "8":---C C. Pereira and Miss C. definitely gaving St. John's the points. Smith M. Silva: H. Gonsalves and Miss M. Xav¬ Was the better of the two; his coverage of ler; N. Beltray and Mika: 5, Remedios,

the baseline and powerful smashing making St. John's--H. Eardley and Kim D. Hard many openturs for Wilson at the net. lay: D. Kwok and Bra, P. Wilson; 7. H.The fact that he played a hard, gama of Rugger in the afternoon gives addöd! marit to Wilaor

rmance.

1 Zwol · and

|

Beltran and Yvanovich fared badly against the better visiting combinations, chieffy through the latter's poor positiorial play, He was' apt to drop back too far and thus cramp Beltrao's stroke-makinï efforts.

· Ar the result of K.C.C.'#' big win" "over" V.R.C., there can be little doubt that the fatter team will finish - up, as they say In baseball, in the "cellar-position !**-

Two K,C.C. paire were unbelten tast v third string füred Badly and did not regis Fone sting

|

John Chen and F. Tuang ($t.

Teresa's)

30

•

C.

F.. Chiu and S. C. (Chung Wah)

Leung

“B” DIVISION

Cames

P. t.. W.

T. Weo and K. L. Lul (King's) Peter Lo and J. Tsang (St.

Teresa's)

16

3 15

15

2 13

15

3 12

12

11

S. P. Chan and W. C. Chung

(King's)

12

2 10

R. E. Lee and F. §. Ke (K.

Tong)

15

6

•

1 •

9

2 7

9

2 7

P. Wilson and N. L. Smith

(St. John's)

A. E. Xavier and H. A. Bartos

(Recreio)

H. Eardley and R. C. Beavan

(St. John's)

N. A. E. Mackay and B. P. C.

Fletcher (K. Tong)

MIXED DOUBLES

Miss O.. Ribeiro and-J.-J.-Remedios

(Recreio "A")

H. F. Gonsalves and Miss M. Xa-

vier (Recreio "B")

Mrs. P. Wilson and D. Kwok (St.

John's)

" K. Hui and Miss Uhang Khoo

(University)

P. S. Bun and Misa Ullan Khoo

(University)

N. Beltrao and Miss S. Remedios

(Recreio "B")

Miss M. Silva and M. A. Oliveira

(Recreio "A")

Mrs. N. Strange and F. H. Kwok

(St. John's)

H. Eardley and Miss. D. Eardley

(St. John's)

C. C. Pereira and Miss C. Silva

(Recreio "B")

1

12

4 8

2 7

4

Mr. and Mrs. R. Main (Talkoo)... 12 8 4

MEN!

HERE'S HOW TO KEEP IN TRIM.

Learn to bowl! You'll find that bowling will keep your body fit and your mind alert. And the best part is that you can bowl in the evenings. We'll give you all the

ructio

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