BADMINTON CHAMPION

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume LXIII, Issue 19028, 30 May 1936, Page 7

BADMINTON CHAMPION

J. F. DEVLIN’S VISIT GISBORNE APPEARANCES

One of the most, interesting oversell, visitors now in New Zealand is L 11.I 1 . Devlin, badminton professional attached to the Winnipeg Winter Club, tin leading Canadian venue, ol the indoo: winter q;nine, and formerly the holtiei of the All England badminton championship for six years. lie is one oi two men who have won outright tin All England championship trophy loi singles play, and Ins' tour of New Zen land is being undertaken under the allspices of the New Zealand Badminton Federation, which organisation hau realised that only through exhibitions by reallv first-class exponents can Hu value of" tbe game be brought home to people of the Dominion. The followers of the game in tin district have taken a considerable re sponsibility in inviting Devlin to include Uisborne in his itinerary. Ihe date 5 selected for his appearances here an July 6, 7 and 8. and preparations an being made for staging his exhibitions to the best advantage, with Iho object of enlightening the public as to the finer points of badminton, and rallying the membership ol the town and country clubs. His exhibit inns in Auckland and other North Island centres have been productive of intense '‘nthusiasm, ami badminton lias advanced materially in those towns as a direct result of"his visits. No less satisfactory effects arc anticipated by sponsors oi his forthcoming visit to Gisborne. CHILDHOOD INTEREST

Born in Dublin 35 years ago, J. FDevlin i- s a husky man-sized type, built on the lines of a .Rugby forward, and actually yell experienced .in that code, since lie played the game, in Ireland as a young man. His boyhood was not marked by outstanding vigour, and lie improved the unshining hours of his •‘lay-by” days by taking up badminton in a big way. Practising in bis room, ho became so expert that he could, without rising from his bed, cause the shuttle to rebound from any given spot on the walls, and thus he developed a backhand strength and dexterity which has stood him in good stead since Ins entry into championship class. No longer inclined to sickness, but instead the embodiment of physical health and vigour, he has retained all his dexterity arid added a forcefulness to his play which must be seen to he believed. lie tirst took up tournament badminton in London in 1919, and was favoured with the interest of Sir George Thomas, All England champion for some years. Devlin says that he spent most of Ins time m ttie early stages of his championship career being beaten by Sir George, but he got the title in 19A>, and subsequently enjoyed live more successes before he became a professional ill the game.

To win the All England championship trophy outright, one must succeed three times in succession or four times at intervals, and Devlin’s version of the dilliculties attending the feat is that first one has to be able to attend the tournament, secondly one has to be lit year after year, and thirdly one lias to Ik: tho best, player there m each year.

One fact in connection with Devlin s .stature in the badminton world is that, lie overcame not only bis early tendency to illness, but the equally severe handicap of short-sightedness, in climbing the ladder to championships, lie plays in pince-nez, and finds the fogging of the glasses his worst handicap in play.