1939: Badminton

National.

Badminton is enjoying increased interest both in championship games and in informal games played in clubs and elsewhere. The game brought together more spectators in 1939 than during the previous year and boasts of attracting 200 ranking racquet swingers from all parts of the United States for the third annual championships, held in New York for the first time. Whereas foreigners excelled in the past, Americans are now taking hold, as is seen in the remarkable playing of Bill Markam, a young American professional of New York, who romped to victory over the agile Jack Purcell, of Canada, the perennial badminton star of the English-speaking world.

California seems to foster netmen since Dave Freeman, of Pasadena (the 1938 national junior tennis champion in both singles and doubles) successfully weathered the stiff competition of three days of play to win the men's national singles crown. Along the route he downed Walter Kramer, of Detroit, who had won the championship every year since it was inaugurated in 1937. In the doubles race, the team of Hamilton Law and Richard Yaeger took the national championship in stride.

The women were every bit as remarkable. Miss Mary Whittemore, of Boston, became the new national titleholder, successfully winning the honor from Miss Helen Gibson, and was also the best in the Eastern district. Mrs. Del Barhuff, last year's singles winner, finished third and also shared honors with Miss Zoe Smith in winning the national doubles title.

New Yorkers saw spectacular playing when Paul Vansco, of the Central Badminton Club, bested his opponents to win the Eastern men's title. His phenomenal rise took him from sixth place in the Eastern ranking, and he also defeated Clifton Stephens, the newly crowned metropolitan champion.

International.

The International Badminton Federation held its sixth annual meeting in London, attended by representatives of seventeen countries. An offer from Sir George Thomas of a trophy for international competition was accepted and regulations were presented governing the tournament. The Canadian Association suggested a revision of the laws of the game, and new laws embodying the principles of consolidation, improved sequence of presentation and simplification were approved and made effective.

The All-England championship, unofficially representing world ranking, announced its 36th annual competition in 1939, with the Danish entrants as top winners; Tage Madsen in the men's singles, and Mrs. Dalsgard and Miss Olsen in the women's doubles. The men's doubles title went to T. H. Boyle and J. L. Rankin, of Ireland. In the ladies' singles, Mrs. W. R. Walton, of Toronto, won the title. In the Canadian open (amateur and professional) George Goodwin (pro), of Ottawa, won the singles title; and Paul and Jim Snyder (amateurs) of Waterloo, Ont., won the doubles.