TABLE TENNIS

Grey River Argus, 21 September 1937, Page 6

TABLE TENNIS

VISIT OF HUNGARIANS. Those spectators who were fortunate enough to see the famous Hungarian Table Tennis players in action at the Town Hall at Greymouth on Saturday night, soon lealised that table tennis is far removed from the old parlour game known as "ping pong”. After watching Szabados and Kelen playing it is quickly realized that there are few if any games as strenuous as Table Tennis. The terrific driving and amazing, and seemingly impossible returns from sometimes 20ft behind the table, showed clearly that to become efficient at the game one must be physically fit, have the eye of a hawk, the footwork of a boxer and plenty of brains. The first exhibition match was between I. Kelen (Hungary) and Brown (Dunedin). This was won by Kelen 21/10, 21/15. Kelen produced a back hand flick shot and drive the like of which has never been seen before in New Zealand. Brown, although lacking in experience put up a great game and often scored from a well placed drive.

The second exhibition match was M. Szabados (Hungary) and E. Stanton (Dunedin) Szabados winning 21/8 and 21/12. Szabados treated the spectators to a wonderful display of shots from well behind the table, mostly heavilj' cut shots interspersed with drives. When Stanton went well back, Szabados would drop a short hall just over the net.

In a doubles exhibition Szabados and Kelen defeated Brown and Stanton 21/7, and 21/14. The visitors here showed the spectators how necessary it was to combine well. The last exhibition single before the visitors own match was between Szabados and L. Sharman (Greymouth, Szabados winning 21/5 and 21/11. Sharman made some nice returns at times but seemed to be handicapped with a sponge rubber bat. This player will probably improve further if he goes back to his former style of play. The final of the West Coast men’s doubles championship was won by Brown and Stanton (Dunedin) who are also South Island doubles champions. They defeated W. Grady and N. Rollerson (Greymouth) by 21/12, 24/22, 21/16. The local players made a bad start but played quite well in the second set which was lost on advantage: In the final of the West Coast men’s singles Brown beat Stanton 12/21, 18/21, 21/18, 21/11, 21/17. The match went the flvesets,-Stanton having all the best of the first two sets, but he seemed to tire from this onwards.

The final match of the evening between M. Szabados and T. Kelen was for the spectators a wonderful exhibition. Szabadbs winning 18/21, 21/14, 21/16, 21/16. Kelen drove with great pace, while Szabados returned shots from every possible position. After seeing these champions in action it is easy to see why the “pen grip” is hopelessly out of it. Detailed scores of the events are: Brown and Stanton defeated Grady and Rollerson 21/12, 24/22, 21/16. Kelen (Hungary) defeated Brown (Dunedin) 21/10, 21/15. Szabados (Hung.) defeated Stanton (Dn) 21/18, 21/12.

Brown (Dunedin) defeated Stanton (Dunedin) 12/21 18/21, 21/18, 21/11, 21/17. Szabados (Hung.) defeated L. Sharman (Grey.) 21/5, 21/11. Szabados and Kelen defeated Brown and Stanton 21/7, 21/14. Szabados defeated Kelen 18/21, 21/14, 21/16, 21/16. The visit of these world champions should do much to assist the game on the West Coast and should suitable rooms be available, the game should go ahead by leaps and bounds. On Sunday the visitors M. Szabados and T. Kelen together with their manager, Mr. M. Meachen, visited the glaciers as the guests of the West Coast Table Tennis Association. After a very enjoyable’ trip they left yesterday for Nelson en route for Wellington.