BADMINTON MALAYANS BEAT N.Z. UNIVERSITIES, 7-2

Press, Volume XCVII, Issue 28604, 5 June 1958, Page 5

BADMINTON MALAYANS BEAT N.Z. UNIVERSITIES, 7-2

Winning all five matches of the second session of play, the touring overseas Malayan badminton team beat the New Zealand Universities’ side by 7 matches to 2 in the King Edward Barracks last evening. At the end of the first evening's play, the score had been two matches each. As pn the first evening, both teams played excellent badminton, with the tourists clearly superior in all-round play. As expected, the best match of the evening was the top singles between Ong Eng Hong, three times Australian champion, and the top Universities' player. Lin Ah Shin. Ong was forced to extend himself far more than against R. Wong the previous evening, although he still won with a lot in reserve.

Watching Ong in his half of the court, one would gain the impression that he was merely having a training session, one in which his opponent hit the shuttle where Ong directed, in order that he may practice particular shots. No matter how hard Lin tried, and he never gave up, he was unable to make his opponent really stretch for the shuttle. Two of Lin’s points were won with forceful smashes, one to Ong's body at the start of the game claiming particular applause, but he was unable at any stage to dictate the play.

Fleetness Ong’s strength lies in his fleetness of foot, and the manner in which he glides from the front to the back of the court leaves no room for doubt as to his general ability. It had been thought that a cross-court net shot might catch the champion out of position, but this did not prove to ■be the case. Li tried many of these shots, of which he is an undoubted master, but they were returned without trouble.

Ong again concentrated upon clearing shots of impeccable length, mixed with delicate drop shots, mostly from the rear of the court. When Lin did a net shot, it was fine to watch how Ong contrived to hit it so far back into the court. Usually the return of such a shot, if any, presents an easy smash. Ong, therefore. concentrated in rushing his opponent frofn the rear to the front of the court, and back again. It is to Lin’s great credit that he did not stop trying. Until the very end of the match he returned good shots, though in the knowledge that his opponent’s return would nullify their value. Lin was at times slightly uncertain in his service, and Ong, although not in general bothering to take advantage of these lapses, smashed twice with great force, illustrating what damage he would cause when fully extended. Ong’s own service was again of immaculate length, and not once was the Victoria University player able to take the least liberty with It. In fact, there was little Lin could do except return a clearing shot, which in any case gained him little advantage. Improvement The visitors’ number two singles Improvement The visitors’. number two ■ singles player, Lee Tak Lum, showed an im- , provement upon his earlier form to . beat the Auckland University player, R. Wong. Lee found that he was able to keep Wong on defence throughout the first set, which he . won for the loss of only one point. ! In the second set, however. Wong I came more into his own, and was , able to make better use of his powerful smash. Winning 11 points in this ’ set, Wong looked at one stage as ■ though he might prolong the match, • but it was not to be. ■ Lee, played the best shot of the 1 evening half-way through the first • 'set when, after three successive back-

i hand clearing shots, which travelled to Wong s baseline, he did a backhand cross-court drop shot from tne same position and with an identical action. Beating the Wellington player, B. Grover, Koo Sheuh Hun also controlled the run of play well in his match. Grover’s long reach was of little avail, as Koo always managed to place the shuttle further away. However, Grover tried hard, and produced some good shots. It was his misfortune to meet Koo in such fine touch. The top doubles match was interesting throughout, with the New Zealand Universities* pair, Lin and Wong, winning the first set in good style. Lin again showed his class at the net, and his delicate interceptions won many points. As on the first evening. Wong smashed very effectively. In the other doubles match, E. H. Ooi and Y. H. Thng. were outplayed by Koo and Lee, although Ooi. in particular, made some sound returns. The scores were;— Singles.—Lee Tak Lum beat R. Wong. 18-1, 15-11; Koo Sheuh Hun beat B. Grover, 15-3. 15-2: Ong Eng Hong beat Lin Ah Shin, 15-3, 15-5. Doubles.—Koo and Lee beat E. H. Ooi and Y. H. Thng. 15-7. 15-5; Ong and Fong Ying Slew beat Lin and Wong, 12-15, 15-g, 15-11.