N.Z. losses in world titles

Press, Volume CXI, Issue 32567, 29 March 1971, Page 26

N.Z. losses in world titles

(N.Z.P.A.-Reuter— Copyright)

NAGOYA.

e All the seeded men’s teams won their matches in the opening-session of the thirty-first world table tennis championships yesterday. But England had a hard struggle to overcome South Vietnam.

Trailing, 3-4, in the best - of - nine singles matches, the tenthseeded Englishmen fought back to win, 5-4.

Japan, holder of the Swaythling Cup for the men’s team event, did not drop a set in defeating Australia, 5-0, and the second-ranked

Sweden also won easily, 5-0, against New Zealand.

But the form of China, participating in the championships for the first time in six years, remained a mystery; it had a walk-over against Jamaica. OTHER EASY WINS

The Chinese, who held the Swaythling Cup from 1961 to 1965, are seeded third.

Jugoslavia (seeded fourth). West Germany (sixth), Hungary (seventh), North Korea (eighth), and South Korea (ninth), all won 5-0 against weak opposition. Russia was ranked fifth for the men’s event, but is not playing. The women’s champion. Russia, began its defence of the Corbillon Cup with an unexpected 3-0 win over India. The second-seeded Japan had a walk-over when the Pakistan team failed to appear. The third-ranked Rumanians were far too strong for New Zealand, winning 3-0, the seventh-seeded South Koreans overwhelmed Thailand, and Cambodia gained a 3-0 victory over Australia. MEN Sweden 5, New Zealand 0: B. Persson beat R. Lee, 21-14, 21-9; K. Johansson beat G. Murphy, 21-8, 21-9: H. Alser beat J. Morris, 21-8, 21-9; Johansson beat Lee, 21-16, 21-11; Persson beat Morris, 21-12, 21-15. Ghana 5, New Zealand 3.—J. B. Hanson beat R. Lee, 22-20, 17-21, 21-12; E. A. Quaye beat J. Morris. 21-15, 21-16; E. K. Ekuban lost to A. Tomlinson. 11-21, 10-21; Quaye beat Lee, 21-14, 21-11; Hanson lost to Tomlinson, 15-21, 11-21; Ekuban lost to Morris, 20- 21-18; Quaye beat Tomlinson, 22-24, 21-8. 21-12; Ekuba.. beat Lee, 21-9, 21-18. Other results: Japan 5, Australia 0; France 5, Philippines 0; Brzail beat Pakistan by default; Iran 5, Ghana 1; Greece 5, Peru 1; England 5, South Vietnam 4; South Korea 5, Hong Kong 0; North Korea 5, Singapore 0; Thailand beat Pakistan, by default; Peru beat Jamaica, by default; Nigeria 5, Malaysia 4; Austria 5, Israel 0; Cambodia 5, Nepal 0; Indonesia 5, Mexico 0; India 5, Philippines 1; West Germany 5. El Salvador 0. Australia 5, Israel 3: Netherlands 5, South Vietnam 3; Nigeria 5, El Salvador 0; Hong Kong 5, United States 1; Canada 5, Colombia 3; Jugoslavia 5, Brazil 0. WOMEN Rumania 3, New Zealand 0: E. Mlhalca beat Y. Fogarty, 21-15, 21- M. Alexandru beat K. Fraser, 21-15, 21-8; Mlhalca and Alexandru beat N. Traill and Fogarty, 21-9, 21-14. Austria 3. New Zealand 2.—W. WiUlnger lost to Traill, 19-21, 13-21; A. Smekal beat Fogarty, 21-17, 16-21, 21-16; WiUlnger and Smekal lost to Traill and Fogarty, 21-14, 18-21, 17-21; Smekal beat Traill. 21-11. 11-21, 21-18; WUHnger beat Fogarty, 21-11 21-19 Other results: Russia 3. India 0; Japan beat Pakistan, by default; Czechoslovakia beat Nigeria, by default; Hong Kong beat Pakistan, by default; Hungary 3, Canada 0; France 3, United States 1; India 3, Singapore 0; Malaysia beat Nigeria, by default; West Germany 3, Nepal 0; China 3, Ghana 0; Sweden 3, Colombia 0; South Korea 3 Thailand 0; Cambodia 3, Australia 0. England 3, Indonesia 1; Russia 3. Singapore 0; Greece 3 Ghana 0; Japan 3, Hong Kong 0; China 3! Greece 0; Czechoslovakia 3, Malaysia 0; Rumania 3, Austria 0.