Young Players Dominate Women's Badminton

Press, Volume XCVII, Issue 28742, 13 November 1958, Page 15

Young Players Dominate Women's Badminton

rpHE recent publication by the A New Zealand Badminton Federation, of the national ranking lists for 1958, serves to emphasise the necessity for the sending overseas of an international women’s team at the first available opportunity, instead of making further attempts to challenge for the men’s Thomas Cup trophy. This can be seen from the composition of the two ladders. the women’s having a majority of younger players at the top, while veterans claim all the leading places on the men’s ladder. Four of the top five women players in the Dominion are still young and capable of further improvement. Miss S. Cox, who has not ranked this year because of her absence from New Zealand. but who has headed the list in the last four seasons, in her early twenties, and should make a capable top player if a national team is sent to compete for the Über Cup next year. Top Ranked Miss A. Mackenzie, who won the title this year in Miss Cox’s absence, is of a similar age. and is now ranked first in the Dominion. Miss G. Hopkinson (20) and Miss M. Moorhead (18 > occupy second and fourth positions on the national ladder. Miss Hopkinson reached the women’s singles final this year, and Miss Moorhead won the junior title for the second year in succession. This quartet could do very well in international competition, judging by results of matches against Australia. It is the custom for the New Zealand women to win all their matches in the inter-Dominion Whyte Trophy competition. Miss Cox's experience overseas, where she beat the world’s fourth-ranked player with no practice in an 1

international tournament tn Holland, lends further strength to this view. The men’s ladder, on.the other hand, is dominated by the older players. The top two players, J. E. Robson and Lin Ah Shin, are over 30. as are the brothers P. D. and A. T. Skelt, ranked fourth and sixth. These players are all near the retiring age and, as they have not played with much success against overseas teams in recent years, it is unlikely that the country’s younger men could do better than a women’s team. Canterbury enthusiasts will derive satisfaction from the high

’ ranking of Miss Hopkinson. Play- [ ing in only her second national : tournament, and in’ her fourth year at the sport, she reached the final by beating several national representatives in earlier , rounds. Her win over Mrs V. i Gow, who was attempting a come-back, was especially meritorious. In the final Miss Hopkinson lost to Miss Mackenzie mainly through nervousness, although she had beaten her in an inter-provincial match earlier jin the season.