BADMINTON'S CHAMPION WOMEN

No sport exceeds badminton in the number, skill and evangelical fervor of its lady participants. This year badminton's governing males put up for international competition a cup donated by England's Betty Uber who, her admirers claim, is to badminton what Helen Wills Moody was to tennis. Ten national teams representing Hong Kong, Malaya, India, Canada, the U.S., Ireland, Scotland, England, Sweden and Denmark responded to the challenge. After continental zone eliminations patterned on Davis Cup competition were completed, the U.S. team met and defeated the Danish girls in the finals held at Lytham St. Anne's, England, to capture the Uber Cup and become the first Ladies' World Badminton Champions. The victors are (left to right) Bea Massman, a physical education teacher from Buffalo, N.Y.; Margaret Varner, the gifted athlete from El Paso (SI, March 26, 1956); Susan Devlin of Owings Mills, Md.; Mrs. Connie Davidson, team manager, and Lois Alston, both of California; Judy Devlin, world singles champion and one of the brightest stars the game has seen; and Ethel Marshall of Eggertsville, N.Y.

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