OLYMPICS: BADMINTON - DAY 9 NOON RESULTS KIM AND GIL SCORE A GIANT UPSET August 1, 1996 (D.Shuttlenws) - Kim Dong Moon and Gil Young Ah of Korea pulled off the biggest upset of the badminton competition at the Atlanta Olympic Games when they defeated the heavily favored pair of Park Joo Bong and Ra Kyung Min, also of Korea, in the mixed doubles final. Kim and Gil kept the play away from the nearly legendary Park Joo Bong, the 1992 gold medalist in men's doubles, and concentrated their efforts on Ra, a singles specialist who was drafted late in 1995 to partner the previously retired Park in his comeback effort. The first game was nip and tuck with the veteran Park and his partner Ra prevailing 15-13. In the second, Kim blasted powerful smashes primarily at Ra while Gil controlled the net. Park seemed less quick in his movement around the court and was not as dominating. Kim and Gil ran away with the second 15-4. The third game was more tightly played, but again, Kim and Gil concen- trated their attack on Ra with Kim's power time and again counting a score. At match point with Gil serving, Kim unleashed a booming smash to the Park-Ra backhand sideline that Ra was unable to block, ending the match at 15-12. The win was a suprise to many as well as Kim and Gil. The final match had been widely expected to be a coronation for Park Joo Bong, a player that many consider to be the best doubles player ever. Kim and Gil's victory makes them the gold medalists, with Park and Ra taking the silver. Liu Jianjun and Sun Man of China were the bronze medalists by way of a win over compatriots Chen Xingdong and Peng Xingyong in the third place playoffs yesterday. Mixed Doubles - Finals (August 1, 1996) KIM Ding Moon/GIL Young Ah (5) - Korea beat PARK Joo Bong/ RA Kyung Min (1) - Korea 13-15, 15-4, 15-12 Gold Medalists - KIM Dong Moon and GIL Young Ah - Korea Silver Medalists - PARK Joo Bong and RA Kyung Min - Korea Bronze Medalists - LIU Jianjun and SUN Man - China COPYRIGHT 1996 by d.shuttlenws@genie.com. PERMISSION GIVEN to redistribute.