TOP NAMES MISSING FROM OLYMPIC QUALIFYING LIST April 4, 1996 (D.Shuttlenws) - Some of the world's best badminton players will not be able to compete at the Atlanta Olympic Games. Names like 1992 Olympic men's singles silver medalist Ardy Wiranata of Indonesia, bronze medalist Hermawan Susanto also of Indonesia, world women's singles junior champion and world number 8 Wang Chen of China are victims of badminton's status in the Olympics as a quota sport as well as the International Olympic Committee's requirement for geographical diversity. As a quota sport, badminton is only allowed to field a maximum of 192 competitors. Because of this limit and the requirement to have as many nations as possible represented at the Games, a country can only have a maximum of 3 players in each of badminton's 5 events if the 3 players are all in the top 16 in their event and only 2 otherwise. This quota affects the top players from badminton powerhouse nations like Indonesia and China. Wiranata and Susanto are ranked among the world's top 10 men's singles players, but are behind compatriots Joko Suprianto (number 1), Heryanto Arbi (number 3) and Allan Budi Kusuma (number 6). Because Indonesia can only have 3 Olympic men's singles entries, Wiranata and Susanto will miss out on the Olympics. The Chinese women are in the same predicament. Wang Chen and Zhang Ning are among the top women's singles players in the world, but are behind Ye Zhaoying (number 1), Han Jingna (number 6) and Yao Yan (number 7). Other top players affected by the quota are: Men's Singles H. Hendrawan - Indonesia (world number 13) Peter Rasmussen - Denmark (world number 17) Women's Singles Lidya Djaelawidjaya - Indonesia (world number 14) Yun Dai - China (world number 15) Men's Doubles Tony Gunawan and Rudy Wijaya - Indonesia (world number 7) Chandra Wijaya and Ade Sutrisna - Indonesia (world number 8) COPYRIGHT 1996 by D.Shuttlenws @genie.com. PERMISSION GRANTED to redistribute electronically in whole or in part.