DAZZLING TABLE TENNIS

Southland Times, Issue 23306, 16 September 1937, Page 11

DAZZLING TABLE TENNIS

HUNGARIAN PLAYERS GIVE EXHIBITION

MASTERY OF ALL STROKES

A brilliant exhibition of the popular indoor game, table tennis, was given by the visiting Hungarian players, Miklos Szabados and Istvan Kelen, m the Victoria Hall last evening. It was the first appearance of overseas table tennis players in Invercargill andtheir visit created much interest. There was an attendance of over 400 people. Table tennis has developed to the extent that it is recognized today as one of the fastest and most fascinating ball games, and in Szabados and Kelen the game has two of its greatest exponents. Szabados is the Hungarian singles champion. He won the world singles title in 1930-1931, and has been runner-up on other occasions, including 1929, when F. J. Perry, former world champion tennis player, won the championship. He has held 11 world titles, including the doubles championship. Kelen, a left-hand player, was runner-up for the world championship in 1930. The Hungarians took part in several games. They met Invercargill players in singles and doubles play, but it was not until they were matched against each other in the final game of the evening that the crowd got the. thrills it went to see. They showed brilliancy in all their work, and both on attack and defence a mastery 'of all the strokes. Some of the recoveries by Szabados were marvellous. He was in excellent form on defence and swept the ball back from seemingly impossible positions ’to the table with uncanny precision. In this play the champion was able to show up because of Kelen s ability to attack from most positions. Kelen used a devastating back-hand and gave Szabados some wonderful opportunities to show his undoubted greatness. The visitors captured the crowd with the pace of their play and the sparkle of the exchanges. Many of the rallies were loudly applauded. Drop shots, half volleys and forehand and backhand driving were executed with consummate skill and ease. There was not a phase of the game in which they did not excel. Kelen beat Szabados in Dunedin, but last night Szabados reversed the result.

In their games against the Invercargill players the Hungarians were not seriously extended. They were not expected to be. Their sportsmanship was noticeable in a number of ways, and they never hesitated to acknowledge good shots by opponents. S. Robson, Southland’s number one player, and J. Mcßride, a young player, played well in their games. Before play began the visitors were introduced by the Mayor (Mr John Miller) who welcomed them on behalf of the Southland Table Tennis Association. Following are the results of the games played:— MEN’S SINGLES W. Strang beat C. Brew, 21-19, 18-21, 21-6. M. Szabados beat J. Mcßride, 21-6, 21-10. I. Kelen beat J. Loudon, 21-11, 21-13. M. Szabados beat S. Robson, 21-12, 21-11. I. Kelen beat D. Bray, 21-9, 21-6. M. Szabados beat I. Kelen, 21-13, 21-19, 15-21, 21-13. MEN’S DOUBLES I. Kelen and J. Mcßride beat M. Szabados and S. Robson, 21-18, 16-21, 21-16. M. Szabados and I. Kelen beat D. Bray and J. Loudon, 21-6, 21-9. WOMEN’S DOUBLES Misses Vickery and McGrath beat Mesdames Robson and Tomlinson 31-29.