Ming and Foster will continue battle

Press, Volume CVIII, Issue 31724, 6 July 1968, Page 11

Ming and Foster will continue battle

’THE expected battle between New Zealand’s topranked player, B. A. Foster (Otago), and the colourful, fierce - hitting Malaysian, Ling Nan Ming (Canterbury), will provide the greatest interest at the twenty-ninth Canterbury open table tennis championships at Selwyn Street today and tomorrow. At their first meeting this season Ming was far too powerful for Foster, winning in straight games, but in the final of the men’s singles at the South Canterbury championships Foster won an exciting contest in five games. Foster was able to contain Ming and eventually upset him with his steadfast defence. Foster will be keen to win his seventh Canterbury singles title in a row,

and Ming will want to gather further evidence to prove himself worthy of

winning a New Zealand ranking for the first time. Besides Foster, Ming has beaten four other New Zealand ranked players—M. W. Borlase (Wellington), J. Armstrong (Canterbury), H. J. Waterhouse (Wellington) and B. T. Cross (Hutt

Valley) already this season. Although Armstrong has not beaten Foster or Ming this season, he can not be discounted. He has won four Canterbury men’s singles titles and can usually rise to his best for this tournament. He is a little slower than previously, and this may count against him. V. N. Brightwell is the only Canterbury player to have beaten Ming this season and although he is in his early forties, his footwork is an object lesson to players half his age. He should be the other semifinalist. Canterbury’s other men’s representatives in the home matches, G. R. Saunders and M. R. Spinks, will be expected to perform well. The talented Otago youngsters, G. K. Jackson and G. B. Murphy, are not coming but interesting outside entries include the South Island selector, P. J. Collett (Otago), the Kaikoura shop - keeper, D. McKenzie, and the dedicated Wellington junior, D. A. Leong.

There are not as many entries from elsewhere as usual even though the total is a record, even without contestants in an under-21

championship, being played for the first time in conjunction with these championships.

With Miss Y. M. Fogarty (Otago) not defending her women’s singles title, the way is open for the hardworking Mrs T. May (Canterbury) .to win her third title. Most opposition will come from Mrs Y. Boulton and the former New Zea-

land representative, Mrs J. Green (both Canterbury). The Otago pair, Mrs R. Sunderland and Miss C. Leith, and South Canterbury’s Mesdames J. Brown and L. Barker will ensure that the top two get plenty of hard play before the final. Foster and W. T. Scott (Canterbury) will be defending their men’s doubles title and Foster will team with Mrs Sunderland in the mixed. One of Canterbury’s