N.Z.’s badminton hopes die

Press, 28 August 1978, Page 28

N.Z.’s badminton hopes die

i PA Invercargill i New Zealand’s Thomas I Cup Badminton’s hopes for 11978 ended yesterday in Invercargill when New Zea- ' land was beaten 5-4 by j Japan in their first round | match. ] But not before New Zealand had put up a tremendous struggle to keep the issue in doubt right until the dying moments. Amid scenes of frenzy in the capacity crowd of 600, and with the games score tied at 4-all, Japan had its world-ranked doubles pairing of Yoshitaka lino and Masoa Tsuchida to thank for its trip into the second round Imatch against Australia. 1

Displaying fine skills I under real pressure, the two Japanese players beat Richard and Bryan Purser 15-10, 17-14.

i When the second day (started both teams were tied 2-all after a singles and doubles win each on Saturday night. In the first game yesterday, Richard Purser, playing in his twenty-first international event for New Zealand, started slowly in his singles game against Toshihiro Tsuji. The Japanese plaver used court placement well and despite several slips on the floor he took the first set 15-10. In the second set, Purser

IWas again slow in starting, being c.own 1-7, but he fought back well and with Ithe return in confidence that I came with it he led 9-7. ] From then on it was pomt I for point until at 12-12 a | fine touch over the net by ] Purser sent Tsuji sprawling. i He did not recover and Purser went on to win 15-12. The vital third set proved a disappointment for Purser for after holding Tsuki in the early stages he fell away under some powerful smashes and lost 15-6.

Bryan Purser kept New Zealand in the hunt however with a smashing 15-4, 15-4 win over Masoa Tsuchida.

! It was a thrilling series of games and as close as all pre-tie predictions had said it would be. But in the long run the superior all-round play of Japan proved the winner.

Results (Japanese names first).—

Saturday: K. Zeniya beat Bryan Purser 15-3, 15-7; M. Tsuchida lost to R. Livingstone 3-15, 15-5, 9-15; N. Ikeda and S. Toganoo lost to R. and B. Purser 7-15, 7-15; Y. lino and M. Tsuchida beat Livingstone and S. Wilson 15-7, 15-10. Sunday: Tsuji beat R. Purser 15-10, 12-15, 15-6; K. Zeniya beat R. Livingstone 18-15. 15-11; M. Tsuchida lost to B. Purser 4-15, 4-15; Ikeda and Toganoo lost to Livingstone and Wilson 16-13, 11-15, 11-15, lino and Tsuchida heat R. and B. Purser 15-10, 17-14.