Badminton likes to claim its origin in New York, with the oldest badminton club in the world, the Badminton Club of the City of New York, as the birthplace of the sport, regardless of those who support some clubs in England for that honor. Major T. J. Oakley Rhinelander, one of the three living founders of the New York club, established in 1878, continues to be one of the staunch supporters of badminton tournaments in New York, but the West has taken over supremacy in the sport during the past two years.
David G. Freeman, of Pasadena, Cal., was largely responsible for California's unprecedented success, for it was he who retained the singles title he won in 1939 and shared the titles in the men's and mixed doubles championships. Again he downed the great Walter Kramer for individual honors, and paired with Chester Goss, of Los Angeles, he upset Hamilton Law and Richard Yaeger, the title holders. Miss Sara Williams paired with him to win the mixed doubles crown.
The outstanding professional players in the United States are Kenneth Davidson, a Scotsman, and Hugh Forgie and Howard Brand, Canadians, who split up in various combinations for singles and doubles matches. Davidson is acknowledged as the cleverest badminton player to watch.
Women who led the field in championship events were Miss Evelyn Boldrick, who captured the national singles title, and Miss Elizabeth Anselm and Miss Helen Zabriskie, the doubles winners, all Californians. The best in the Eastern championships for men were Harold Seavey, of Boston, singles winner, and John Laimbeer and Julian H. Burgiss, in the men's doubles.
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