BADMINTON UPSETS

Press, Volume CXIV, Issue 33448, 1 February 1974, Page 8

BADMINTON UPSETS

Mrs Gillian Gilks (England) and Punch Gunalan (Malaysia) became the singles gold medallists in surprising circumstances in the badminton finals at Cowles stadium last evening.

The pre-match favourites, and defending champions, Miss Margaret Beck (England) and Jamie Paulson (Canada), in a reversal of form, never settled down in their matches. They made 100 many mistakes, and Mrs Gilks and Gunalan won easily in two straight games. Paulson found Gunalan in immaculate form and the experienced Malaysian gave nothing away in his win by 15-1, 15-6.' “Punch was in super form; he was on me straight from the start and played a perfect match,” Paulson said. A modest Gunalan replied: “1 played very well; I was rather surprised at. myself.” Gunalan ran away with the first game, mixing touch with power beautifully. After taking another quick lead at 6-0 in the second game, Paulson attempted a comeback and drew up to 4-8. But Gunalan, who had trained only for a week before the Games, did not want the match to go to three, and played some magnificent winning shots. It was a proud moment

[tor Gunalan — and a just reward for long service to the sport — when he stood lon the victory dais. He intends to retire shortly. It was his first singles gold after three attempts. In the women’s final. Miss! Beck raced to an 8-0 lead in the first game and looked set j to win her second successive I gold. But unusual errors | I crept into her game and Mrs i Gilks tightened her play. Mrs Gilks tied the scores, •won the vital Ist rallies, and (was a confident player in the' second game. When she | smashed a winner for the] match at 11-8, she had finally shaken off the bridesmaid image. She was runner-up to Mrs Beck at Edinburgh, in the allEngland tournament last year, and in many other major tournaments. “It was a great win,” she said. “I was not nervous because I felt so relaxed. It made me think better.”

A disappointed Miss Beck said: "I just lost my concentration — and it is not the first time it has happened to me.”