FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
OCTOBER 13, 1995

HAN AND ZIMMERMAN NAMED 1995 UNITED STATES BADMINTON ATHLETES OF THE YEAR

(COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo.) -- As a result of their outstanding
achievements on the badminton court in 1995, Olympic hopefuls Kevin
Han (Colorado Springs, Colo.) and Kathy Zimmerman (Colorado Springs,
Colo.) were named USBA Male and Female Athletes of the Year for 1995.
This is the second consecutive year Han has been granted this
prestigious honor.  Han, 23, truly came of age this badminton season,
winning the National title in men's singles for a second consecutive
year.  He also won the men's doubles title with partner Tom
Reidy (Colorado Springs, Colo.) at the 1995 U.S. Olympic Festival.
Han enjoyed more international success than any other U.S. player,
winning a silver medal in men's doubles (w/Tom Reidy) and a bronze in
men's singles at the 1995 Pan American Games.  Han also finished in
the round of 16 at the 1995 U.S. Open, and in the round of 32 at the
1995 World Championships.  At his current world ranking of 30, Han is
the highest ranked men's singles player in Pan America (North and
South America).  Han is a member of the USBA's Resident
Athlete Program in Colorado Springs, Colo., and is currently competing
on the European Circuit with the Aura Badminton Club in Malmo, Sweden.
The USBA Female Athlete of the Year is Kathy Zimmerman.  The Denver,
Colorado native took the badminton world by storm this year, winning
three gold medals (singles, doubles, team) at the 1995 U.S. Olympic
Festival in Boulder, Colo.  The three victories marked a U.S. Olympic
Festival Record for the most medals won.  Other
outstanding accomplishments in 1995 include a double bronze medal
performance (singles, doubles) at the 1995 Pan American Games, and
second place finishes in both women's singles and doubles at the 1995
U.S. National Championships.  Zimmerman, 23, is also a member of the
USBA's Resident Athlete Program in Colorado Springs, Colo., and is
currently training and competing in Germany with doubles partner
Jennifer Westerman.  Zimmerman and Westerman will try to qualify for
the 1996 Olympic Games as a women's doubles team. Zimmerman and Han
will be the USBA's nominees for the United States Olympic Committee's
Athlete of the Year award, which will be announced on November 17,
1995.    

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(FOR MORE INFORMATION, PLEASE CONTACT PAUL PAWLACZYK, USBA
COMMUNICATIONS DIRECTOR, AT 719-578-4808)