Won Medal At Perth But Won’t At Tokyo

Press, Volume CIII, Issue 30498, 21 July 1964, Page 14

Won Medal At Perth But Won’t At Tokyo

f.X'ew Zealand Press Association)

WELLINGTON, July 20. Thirty youngsters crowded round a Hutt Valley gymnasium last night where their idol, the British Empire wel-ter-weight champion, -W. Coe was continuing his preparations for the Toky o Olympics. A transistor radio nearby was tuned for the announcement of the team but it was a telephone call just after 8 p.m. which brought the bad news. Coe, winner of 13 of 14 fights as a New Zealand representative, was the surprise omission from the team.

Coe’s trainer and uncle. Mr R. Dunn, answered the call. His immediate reaction was: “I’m dumbfounded. ’ “He went to Perth to win

a medal. He won a gold I can’t understand it,” said Mr Dunn. Coe had not been informed of his omission when he went to the telephone. 1 “Oh. well," he said, "it’s bad luck." Mr B. F. O'Brien, chairman of the Wellington Boxing Association and an Empire Games judge, said: "My association will be most disappointed that a boxer of Coe's calibre has missed selection. “Coe’s trainer works toward his boxer reaching peak form for the games.” Coe was nominated as third

preference in the three-man boxing squad. The other two. B. Maunsell and P. Donovan, will be at {Tokyo.