Table Tennis Japanese Women Too Strong For N.Z. Side

Press, Volume XCIX, Issue 29237, 22 June 1960, Page 17

Table Tennis Japanese Women Too Strong For N.Z. Side

The touring Japanese women's table tennis team beat New Zealand in the first international match between the two countries played in Christchurch last evening. The “Japanese team won by 5 matches to 0. and in only one game did they look in any danger of defeat. .

The New Zealand captain (Miss J. Williamson) was the most prominent member of the New Zealand team. In the first game of her match, against Miss K. Matsuzaki, present holder of the world women’s singles title. Miss Williamson led to 13-12, but found the consistent attack of her opponent too much. Mrs J. Magorian did not do as well, and was given no chance to play her usual style of game.

Misses Matsuzaki and Yamaizumi both showed the footwork and hard hitting which has characterised Japan's players ever since their first serious entry on to the world championship scene at Bombay in 1953. These players would probably have more difficult competition in their own national championships than in the world titles, so high is the all-round standard of play in Japan. There is no doubt that the Japanese women were in deadly earnest about winning the international contest. With the manager (Mr H. Shimizu) taking notes after virtually every point, the visitors were on their toes throughout. Although the New Zealand opposition may not have brought out the very best in the Japanese players, their exhibition match later in the evening gave positive evidence of their skill on attack and defence. Miss Matsuzaki showed all the attributes of a world champion- in footwork, concentration and ball control, but was slightly overshadowed in all-round ability by Miss Yamalzumi, the captain of the visiting side. Ranked thirteenth in the world. Miss Yamalzumi looked much more confident against the heavy chop of Miss Williamson and the attempts at steadiness of Mrs Magorian. Fast Footwork Serving and receiving services from the extreme backhand corner of the table the Japanese women were not worried by attempts to return the ball rwide to their forehand. Their fast footwork enabled them to cover these shots without difficulty, and they were usually in a position to hit a winning drive. Their drives to their opponents’ backhand, in particular, were regular points winners. Miss Williamson gave the capacity crowd of 650 a thrill in the early stages of her match with the world champion. The Canterbury player varied the amount of her ‘chop intelligently. and Miss Matsuzaki. tcpspinnlng the ball back carefully, was often misled into lifting it over the end of the table.

The floor of the Caledonian Hall was a little slippery in spite of efforts to relieve this by spreading candle wax. Leading 11-9, Miss Williamson fell when rushing in to pick up a Matsuzaki drop-shot. Miss Williamson slid under the table and escaped injury, while her opponent hit the winning shot. Later in thi.game Miss Matzusaki hit with more freedom through Miss Williamson’s backhand.

In the second game Miss Matsuzaki always held a slight advantage, but Miss Williamson picked up points here and there. She hit some delightful backhand flicks, and on one occasion drove the ball back past a surprised Japanese opponent from well behind the table. Hit Carefully Miss Williamson did not show to such good advantage against Miss Yamalzumi holder of the world doubles title. On her toes after her near-defeat by Mia Williamson last Saturday in Invercargill, Miks Yamalzumi nit carefully and waited for her opponent to make an error. Several rallies ended with Miss Williamson's chop floating off the end of the table. The New Zealand players were able to return their opponents' sidespin services on to the table, but were usually unable to avoid placing the ball intd a position favourable to the Japanese players* fullbodied drives to the forehand corner.

Like Miss Williamson. Mrs Magorian showed to better advantage against Miss Matsuzaki. Bouts of swift hitting characterised the early stages of this match. Mrs Magorian

tried to keep the ball on her opponents’ backhand. Although counterhitting to the backhand is the theoretical way to beat a pen-holder player, the Japanese can produce an orthodox and effective backhand flick from this position. So it proved in this match, and Mrs Magorian was unable to gain the initiative at any stage. In her match against Miss Yamalzumi, which was the first of the evening's programme. Mrs Magorian's defence proved Inadequate against the all-out attack of the chunky Japanese player. Mrs Magorian attempted to hit some winners off her backhand, but these were ill-judged. Miss Yamalzumi hit hard and often at Mrs Magorlan's backhand, but only rarely did a rally force the Japanese player to produce < her fastest drives. The Japanese pair showed fine combination in the doubles match, and never looked in danger of defeat. Their side-spin services always had to be carefully watched. Again the visitors played to the backhand side of the table and. although the New Zealand pair led in the early stages of the second game, the result was never in doubt.

Results (Japanese names first) were:—

Singles.—Mia K. Matsuzaki beat Miss J. Williamson, 11-15, 21-14: beat Mrs J. Magorian. 21-10, 21-9; Miss K. Yamalzumi beat Mia Williamson, 21-7. 21-10; beat Mrs Magorian. 21-9. 21-6.

Doubles.—Misses Matsuzaki and Yamalzumi beat Miss Williamson and Mrs Margorian, 21-6, 21-12.