Badminton final will be close

Press, Volume CXIV, Issue 33447, 31 January 1974, Page 28

Badminton final will be close

The men’s singles final in the Games badminton this evening in the Cowles Stadium should be interesting, particularly because the finalists. Jamie Paulson (Canada) and Punch Gunalau (Malaysia) have prepared so differently.

Because of pressure of work, Gunaian, could train hard for only a week before arriving in Christchurch. Paulson has concentrated most on fitness training. Without a doubt, Paulson, the defending champion, will be the more agile. Gunaian is likely to try to turn the final into a battle of tactics. Gunaian, who is four years older than his opponent, has the experience to read the match. Against Talbot (Eng-

land) in the semi-final, Gunaian threw the second game, to save energy for the third. What Gunaian lacks in fitness he makes up in spirit. Living in Canada, Paulson has suffered the frustration of not being able to obtain enough international competition. Gunaian travelled to international tournaments last season; he is the present South-East Asian Peninsula Games champion.

But Paulson has one more advantage. He entered only the singles in the Games, and concentrated all his energies on retaining the gold medal. Gunaian, a former world champion in doubles, said yesterday, "I was surprised to go so far in the singles.”

The top seed in the women’s singles, Miss Margaret Beck (England), has an impressive record as the top women’s player in the world. She has won the Jamaican, Portuguese, All-England and English national and invitation championships. Miss Beck will play her second Games final. On both occasions Miss Beck’s opponent will have been her doubles partner and teammate, Mrs Gillian Giiks.

The final will be explosive — both players hit the shuttle as strongly as men. For many years England has suffered from a lack of facilities, and players have had to compete in more doubles matches than singles. The advantage of this is clearly illustrated as England fills all the final places in the men’s and women’s doubles, and the mixed doubles.