Australian’s upset win

Press, 22 June 1981, Page 34

Australian’s upset win

PA Auckland The 23-year-old Australian, Sue Dally scored one of her finest badminton successes when, for the second time in three days, she beat the formidable English girl, Sally. Leadbetter, to win the women’s singles at the international tournament in Auckland yesterday. This was the first of two upsets in the final session at Badminton Hall for the Indian Syed Modi lost his men’s title to the tenacious Indonesian left-hander, Dhany Sirtika. Miss Leadbetter had some compensation from this Yonex tournament when she and the 16-year-old Helen Troke, also of England, won the women’s * doubles from the Australian team of Miss Daly and Ms Julie McDonald. The tournament ended with a rousing men’s doubles final in which the Thailand pair of Surapong Suharitdamrong and Pinit Boonoon recovered from a 12-8 third game deficit to overcome Dhany and Hastomo Arbi, of Indonesia. Miss Leadbetter had aI mixed few days in Auckland.)

On Friday evening she broke four racket frames while losing to Miss Daly in section play. On Saturday she played almost flawless badminton to beat Miss Troke, only dropping a point in their semifinal. However, yesterday Miss Daly was ‘ clearly her superior, and turned the final game into a rout by winning it 11-0. Miss Leadbetter felt that the different shuttle from the one she normally uses in English play possibly upset

her timing especially close to the net. There were however, pressure and precision about the play of the Australian that carried her to this table victory. The Leadbetter drops were picked up brilliantly while Miss Daly's own net game, clearing and smashing had a real international quality. Miss Daly will be back in New Zealand shortly, and her form of the last few days suggests that she will De a

severe obstacle to the national Whyte Trophy team when they meet Australia in three tests. Dhany was in equally impressive touch. He moved sweetly round the court,.and Modi, who had spent most of his time in the hall well clad and wearing thick gloves was scratching for most of the two-game match. In counter-hitting, the short game and duels from the back of the court Dhany had nearly all the answers.