Japan proves superiority in table tennis

Press, 3 September 1984, Page 3

Japan proves superiority in table tennis

PA Wellington The Japan men’s table tennis team proved its superiority over New Zealand once again with an 8-1 win in the second test at Walter Nash Stadium, Lower Hutt, on Saturday. The Japanese, who won the first test, 7-2, have now wrapped up the test series. Although his team was well beaten, the New Zealand coach, Geoff Rau, was far from despondent. “The games were good value,” he said. “They proved that New Zealanders can play well against some

of the top players in the world.

“In the past, leading overseas players have virtually had to give points away. In this encounter the Japanese had to earn their victories.”

New Zealand’s two bright young hopes, Barry Griffiths and Peter Jackson, gave good accounts. Griffiths had a 16-21, 21-18, 21-11 win over Japan’s No. 3, Ichiro Hoshino, and Jackson came close to repeating his first test win over Masahiro Maehara, ranked fortyfourth in the world. He won

his first game, 25-23, but lost the next two. However, once again noone could get near the top Japanese player, Hiroyuki Abe, the winner of the singles title last week. With lightning speed around the table and big forehand, Abe was always in control against the New Zealanders. He has yet to concede a game on the tour of Australia and New Zealand. While the Japanese were fast and skilful attackers, the highlight for a large crowd on Saturday was their retrieving far from the

table. They often retreated 5m to retrieve smashes, finding the table with unerring accuracy. Results (Japanese name first): Masahiro Maehare beat Graham Lassen 21-9, 21-12; Hiroyuki Abe beat Peter Jackson 21-9, 21-18; Ichiro Hoshino lost to Barry Griffiths 21-16, 18-21, 11-21; Abe beat Lassen 21-3, 21-13; Maehara beat Griffiths 21-13, 21-17; Hoshino beat Jackson 21-14, 21-18; Abe beat Griffiths 21-7, 21-17; Hoshino beat Lassen 21-16, 21-7; Maehara beat Jackson 23-25, 21-19, 21-12.