FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
JANUARY 24, 1996

AMERICAN'S VON HEILAND AND GOMEZ TO BE PUT TO THE TEST TODAY AT
THE 1996 KOREAN BADMINTON OPEN

(COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo.) -- American's Gina Gomez (Millbrae,
Calif.) and Erika Von Heiland (Anaheim, Calif.) will definitely
have their hands full today, as they take on two of Korea's best
at the 1996 Korean Open.  Von Heiland, who advanced to the second
round by defeating Canada's Moira Ong yesterday, will take on
16th ranked Lee Joo Hyun of Korea.  Gomez will have and even
greater challenge, as she takes on second ranked Bang Soo Hyun of
Korea.  Gomez did find victory in the opening round of women's
doubles yesterday, as she paired with Korean Lee Kyung Ock to
defeat Kazakhstan's Irina Gritsenko and Ludmila Okuebva 15-2, 15-
11.  

Tuesday's Opening Round U.S. Results

Women's Singles
Erika Von Heiland (Anaheim, Calif.) def. Moria Ong (correction
from yesterday's release) (CAN) 8-11, 12-11, 11-8

Lee Soon Deuk (KOR) def. Linda French (Elmhurst, Ill.) 11-5, 11-1

Pornsawan Plungwech (THA) def. Kathy Zimmerman (Denver, Colo.)
11-2, 11-0

Women's Doubles
Kwon Eun Hee/Kimm Young Sun (KOR) def. French and Von Heiland 15-
9, 15-4

Gina Gomez (Millbrae, Calif.)/Lee Kyung Ock (KOR) def. Irina
Gritsenko/Ludmila Okebva (KAZ) 15-2, 15-11

Today's Events (1-24-96)

Gina Gomez vs. Bang Soo Hyun (KOR)

Erika Von Heiland vs. Lee Joo Hyun (KOR)   

     The Korean Open (Seoul, Korea, January 23-27) is a
5-star event on the IBF's World Grand Prix Badminton circuit,
featuring $125,000 in prize money.  It is also an Olympic
Qualifying Event, which will effect athletes' world player
rankings.  The 192 person field (36 - men's singles, 36 - women's
singles, 40 men's doubles pairs, 40 women's doubles pairs, and 40
mixed doubles pairs) for the 1996 Olympic badminton competitiion
will be selected based on the International Badminton
Federation's (IBF) official world ranking list as of March 31,
1996.  The IBF will announce the badminton field for the 1996
Olympic Games no later than April 15, 1996.  The next IBF World
Grand Prix/Olympic Qualifying Event is the Thomas and Uber Cup
Preliminaries (Men's and Women's World Team Championships),
February 17-25 in Prague, CZE (European Venue) and Auckland, NZL
(Asian Venue).            

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