National badminton selectors resign

Press, 23 September 1983, Page 32

National badminton selectors resign

By DAVID LEGGAT New Zealand’s three senior badminton selectors have resigned in protest at interference from the national federation, for the second consecutive year. The convener of the selection panel, Miss Gilda Tompkins, of Auckland, confirmed yesterday that she had verbally informed the New Zealand Badminton Federation late last week. The other selectors are Alby Duckmanton, of Christchurch, and Mrs Alison Branfield, also of Auckland. The selectors had picked two squads of eight players to train for the Thomas and Über Cup international competitions early next year. When those squads were submitted to the federation for approval, it was stressed that John Miles, the talented Aucklander who has been living in Australia for two years, could be added to the squad as an

extra player, but not at the expense of one of the eighteen men already listed. When those squads were released Miles was named as one of eight players, and one other player had been excluded.

Last year, the selectors had chosen five men and five women for the Commonwealth Games team, as requested. However, two of those women were omitted, and only three competed at Brisbane.

Miss Tompkins said it was most unlikely that the selectors would reverse their decision. She has been on the panel for the last six years, while Mr Duckmanton and Mrs Branfield are in their second year in the job. “It is a drastic step, agreed Miss Tompkins yesterday, “but there is no way we can carry on in the same atmosphere. They (the Federation) do not appreci-

ate what we have done.”

The problem now for the Federation is that there will be no-one to pick the final five men and five women for the Thomas and Über Cups from the training squads. Mr Duckmanton said he particularly felt sympathy for the players. “The three of us had tried to do an honest and openminded job,” he said. “I feel we have seen far more badminton than anyone on the federation this year, and are in the best position to judge who to include and who to leave out of squads.” “There seems no point in carrying on wasting our time if we are going to be overruled,” he added. The selectors are appointed by the annual general meeting, which is not until the middle of next year. So, officially at least, the sport is without selectors for the remainder of the year.