Only Six Players Entered

Press, Volume CI, Issue 29909, 24 August 1962, Page 17

Only Six Players Entered

The 1962 New Zealand badminton championships, which will be held in Dunedin next week have attracted a disappointingly small entry from Christchurch players. Only four have entered in the men’s singles—and two in the women's singles in spite of the fact that the meeting is not likely to be so near to Christchurch again for several seasons. It is unfortunate for Canterbury’s badminton prestige that the province’s best player. D. A. Henderson, is prevented by business considerations from attending the championships. Henderson has this season recorded a comfortable win over G. Hinton, of Otego, who i> seeded seventh for the men’s

singles, and might have won himself a place in the national ranking list Canterbury's representatives in the men's singles will be P. Boatwood. D B Reid. M. Ford, and R Burrell. Boatwood. the present holder of the national junior title, should acquit nimself well in senior company. He has a wide range of shots and could improve immensely with hard competition. Reid once reached the semifinals of the men's doubles at a national championship meeting. His speed and reflexes give him a natural advantage at the doubles game. Ford, who delights in retrieving the shuttle from impossible positions, will give trouble to a number of the top players.

In the women's singles. Miss K Williams and Mrs M. Miller will be Canterbury's representatives. Miss Williams has improved her mobility on the court, and is far less vulnerable to placements down the side-lines The left-handed Mrs Miller is a player who relies on anticipation and good placements. but she is drawn to meet the title-holder, Mrs H. Robson, in the first round of the women's singles event. Three young members of the Railway club. the brother* Roger. Russell and Geoffrey Miller, will represent Canterbury in the junior events. The Canterbury Badminton Association’* president. D. P. Hickey, and J. Ewart, will compete In the veteran events.