U.S. OPEN INCREASES PRIZE MONEY TO $225,000

July 17, 1996 (D.Shuttlenws) - The International Badminton Federation's
quarterly publication - World Badminton - reports in its July issue that
the U.S. Open for 1996 and 1997 will have prize money of US$225,000 and
a six-star Grand Prix rating.

The increased prize money places the U.S. Open on the same level as
the Indonesian and Malaysian Opens, the other six-star events on the
international badminton Grand Prix circuit, and ahead of the prestigious
All-England championships, a five-star event.

Scheduled to be held in Los Angeles, California in late September this
year, the tournament will be certain to attract the top badminton
players in the world.

The event will now be called the Liusanje U.S. Open after the main
sponsors.

The increase in prize money was arranged and negotiated by the
International Badminton Federation led by Justian Suhandinata of
Indonesia, its vice-president for development.

(Because of its six-star status, television coverage by Star-TV for Asia
as well as by local U.S. services is probable, but not confirmed).


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