STRONGEST FIELD N.Z. Badminton Squad Picked

Press, Volume CVI, Issue 31376, 23 May 1967, Page 19

STRONGEST FIELD N.Z. Badminton Squad Picked

(New Zealand Press Association) WELLINGTON. The strongest badminton field to assemble in New Zealand will play at Badminton Hall, Wellington, on July 1-2.

Thirteen former or present internationals are among the 23 players to have accepted invitations to compete in the Rothmans’ invitation tournament.

This is the final trial for selection of the New Zealand side to defend the Whyte

Trophy against Australia in August. The only player to decline an invitation was the Auckland veteran, J. Robson, seven times national singles champion. Robson, who has been out of top badminton for two seasons, was expected to make a come-back this year, but has withdrawn from ( representative play because of lack of training opportunities.

The national selectors will invite another as yet unnamed player in his place for the invitation series. Entries received by the New Zealand Badminton Federation by closing time yesterday were:—

Men.—R. Purser (Taranaki), D. Higgins (Wellington), K. Long (Auckland), L. Bristol (Manawatu), G. Jefferson (Waikato), J. Compton (Wellington), M. Stossel (Wellington), D. Gloyne (Manawatu), W. Johns (Auckland), G. Hinton (Otago), N. Thompson (Southland).

Women. —Mesdames V Gow (Auckland), G. Weaiherley (formerly Simpson) (Auckland), B. Anderson (formerly Cormack) (Canterbury), H. Robson (Auckland), G. Middieberg (Wellington), P. Stevens (formerly Belton) (Northland), K. Dunn (Wellington), and Misses G. Steel (Wellington), J. Probert (Wellington), A. Glenie (Auckland), and G. Tompkins (Wellington).