FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
(November 12, 1996)


Kevin Han, Yeping Tang Named 1996 Badminton 
Athletes of Year


(COLORADO SPRINGS, COLO.) - USA Badminton, national 
governing body for the sport of badminton in the U.S.,  has 
named Kevin Han (Colorado Springs, Colo.) and Yeping Zhao 
Tang (Gaithersburg, Md.) as the 1996 Athletes of the Year 
for the sport of badminton.

Han, 23, has now won the award for three straight years. He 
was the sole male badminton competitor for the United State 
in this year's Olympic Games in Atlanta. In the Bulgarian 
Open in October of 1995, Han turned in his best 
international performance of the year, winning the men's 
doubles title with partner Tom Reidy, and placing second in 
men's singles. In September, Han reached the round of 16 at 
the 1996 U.S. Open. Han's international rank of 31 in men's 
singles during 1996 was the highest ranking of any U.S. 
badminton athlete this year.

Nationally, Han was the men's doubles championship at the 
Adult National tournament (partner Tom Reidy), and was the 
runner-up in men's singles. He also won the men's singles 
title at the Southern Classic in Miami Lakes, Fla., part of 
USA Badminton's "Classics" circuit. Han currently trains 
full-time as a resident athlete at the Olympic Training 
Center Complex in Colorado Springs.

Tang, 27, who competed for the U.S. on their 1996 Uber Cup 
team, dominated national competition this year. She won the 
women's singles and mixed doubles (partner Andy Chong, Miami 
Lakes, Fla.) championships at this year's Adult Nationals, 
and finished second in women's doubles (partner Andrea 
Edstrom, Colorado Springs, Colo.).

Tang also won an amazing 15 overall titles at USA 
Badminton's "classic" circuit, the grand prix of badminton 
in the U.S. Tang won women's singles, doubles, and mixed 
doubles at each of the five "Classic" tournaments. Her 
"Classics" sweep included the Mid-Atlantic Classic, Pikes 
Peak Classic, St. Louis Classic, Southern Classic, and the 
Dave Freeman Classic.

Tang currently trains and resides in Gaithersburg, Md. She 
hopes to compete for the U.S. in the 2000 Olympic Games in 
Sydney, Australia.