FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE APRIL 8, 1996 HAN, FRENCH, AND VON HEILAND NOMINATED TO REPRESENT U.S. BADMINTON AT THE 1996 ATLANTA OLYMPIC GAMES (COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo.) -- The United States Badminton Association announced today that Kevin Han (Colorado Springs, Colo.), Linda French (Elmhurst, Ill.), and Erika Von Heiland (Anaheim, Calif.) have been nominated to the United States Olympic Committee for inclusion on the 1996 U.S. Olympic Badminton Team. The three players qualified for the Games through the International Badminton Federation's (IBF) one year international qualifying process (April 1, 1995 - March 31, 1996). The final selection of the team must be approved by the United States Olympic Committee, and a formal announcement will be forthcoming on July 5, 1996. Han, 23, finished the IBF's qualifying period ranked 55th in the world in men's singles. With the U.S. guaranteed at least two entries as host country, he qualified in men's singles as the top-ranked player in the event from the Pan American continent(North and South America). "Being nominated is the most exciting thing that has ever happened to me in my life," said an overjoyed Han. "It will give me the confidence I need to push my career forward." "My goals are to work as hard as I can the next three months and play my best badminton ever in Atlanta." Top accomplishments for Han this season include winning the 1995 Bulgarian Open with doubles partner Tom Reidy (Tempe, Ariz.), which marked the first time a U.S. team had ever won an IBF World Grand Prix event. Han also finished second in men's singles at the Bulgarian, and third at the 1995 Pan American Games. He has been ranked as high as 30th internationally in men's singles this qualifying season. 1992 Olympians Linda French and Erika Von Heiland will make their second consecutive Olympic appearance in Atlanta this summer. Ranked 38th in the world in women's doubles, they finished the year-long qualifying period as the highest ranked Americans, and were nominated in women's doubles to take the second U.S. automatic birth. French, 32, competed in both singles and doubles (partner: Joy Kitzmiller) at the 1992 Olympic Games in Barcelona, where she finished in the round of 32 in each event. This year she will only compete in women's doubles, but is just as excited as she was before the Barcelona Games in 1992. "I'm very excited to have qualified for my second Olympic Games and I hope more Americans will have a chance to familiarize themselves with the great sport of badminton." Von Heiland, 30, competed in women's singles at the 1992 Games, and is excited about the second time around in doubles. "Competing in my first Olympics in 1992 was awesome, but going to my second Olympics on home-soil is beyond words," Von Heiland said in triumph. "This will be a great way to end my career." Top results for French/Von Heiland the past year include winning a bronze medal at the 1995 Pan American Games, and finishing second at the 1995 Bermuda International Open. Both French and Von Heiland competed on the 1996 U.S. Uber Cup team. The following is the list of eligible players and reserves for the 1996 Olympic Games (33 men's singles, 33 women's singles, 19, men's doubles, 19 women's doubles, 17 mixed doubles). Wild Card entries will be selected from the reserve list no later than June 30th to bring the total number of competitors up to 192. The 1996 Olympic Badminton Competition will be held at the Georgia State University Sports Center in Atlanta, Ga. July 24 - August 1. List of Eligible players and Reserves for the 1996 Olympic Games: MEN'S SINGLES: 1. Joko Suprianto (INA) 2. Poul-Erik Hoyer-Larsen (DEN) 3. Heryanto Arbi (INA) 4. Dong Jiong (CHN) 5. Park Sung Woo (KOR) 6. Allan Budi Kusuma (INA) 7. Rashid Sidek (MAS) 8. Lee Kwang Jin (KOR) 9. Thomas Stuer-Lauridsen (DEN) 10. Sun Jun (CHN) 11. Yu Lizhi (CHN) 12. Kim Hak Kyun (KOR) 13. Ong Ewe Hock (MAS) 14. Darren J. Hall (ENG) 15. Tomas Johansson (SWE) 16. Jeroen van Dijk (NED) 17. Jens Olsson (SWE) 18. Peter Knowles (ENG) 19. Pontus Jantti (FIN) 20. Robert Liljequist (FIN) 21. Liu En-Hoeng (TPE) 22. Oliver Pongratz (GER) 23. Joris van Soerland (NED) 24. Kitikul Kitipon (THA) 25. Andreij Antropov (RUS) 26. Hannes Fuchs (AUT) 27. Chang Jeng-Shyong (TPE) 28. Thomas Wapp (SUI) 29. Pavel Uvarov (RUS) 30. Murray Hocking (AUS) 31. Jurgen Koch (AUT) 32. Kevin Han (USA) 33. Eddy Clarisse (MRI) Reserves 1. Jaimie Dawson (CAN) 2. Iain Sydie (CAN) 3. Tan Sian Peng (SIN) 4. Deepankar Bhattacharya (IND) 5. Nicholas Hall (NZL) 6. Dariusz Zieba (POL) 7. Hans Sperre (NOR) 8. Fumihiko Machida (JPN) 9. Todor Velkov (BUL) 10. Tam Kai Chuen (HKG) WOMEN'S SINGLES: 1. Ye Zhaoying (CHN) 2. Susi Susanti (INA) 3. Bang Soo Hyun (KOR) 4. Lim Xiaoqing (SWE) 5. Camilla Martin (DEN) 6. Han Jingna (CHN) 7. Yao Yan (CHN) 8. Kim Ji Hyun (KOR) 9. Mia Audina (INA) 10. Ra Kyung-Min (KOR) 11. Yuliani Sentoso (INA) 12. Marina Yakusheva (RUS) 13. Catrine Bengtsson (SWE) 14. Jaroensiri Somharothai (THA) 15. Hisako Mizui (JPN) 16. Joanne Muggeridge (ENG) 17. Anne Sondergaard (DEN) 18. Denyse Julien (CAN) 19. Anne Gibson (SCO) 20. Plungwech Pornsawan (THA) 21. Yasuko Mizui (JPN) 22. Vlada Tcherniavskaja (BLR) 23. Lisa Campbell (AUS) 24. Neli Nedjalkova (BUL) 25. Zarinah Abdullah (SIN) 26. Doris Piche (CAN) 27. Huang Chia-Chi (TPE) 28. Elena Rybkhina (RUS) 29. Rhona Robertson (NZL) 30. Jeng Shwu-Zen (TPE) 31. Brenda Bennhakker (NED) 32. Monique Hoogland (NED) 33. Martine DeSouza (MRI) Reserves: 1. Elena Nosdran (UKR) 2. Song Yang (AUS) 3. Katarzyna Krasowska (POL) 4. Heike Schonharting (GER) 5. Sandra Dimbour (FRA) 6. Chia Fong Chan (MAS) 7. Elsa Nielsen (ISL) 8. Amparo Lim (PHI) 9. Santi Wibowo (SUI) 10. P.V.V. Lakshimi (IND) MEN'S DOUBLES 1. Ricky Subagja/Rexy Mainaky (INA) 2. Cheah Soon Kit/Yap Kim Hock (MAS) 3. Denny Kantono/S. Antonius (INA) 4. Gunawan/Bambang Suprianto (INA) 5. Jon Holst-Christensen/Thomas Lund (DEN) 6. Huang Zhanzhong/Jiang Xin (CHN) 7. Peter Axelsson/Par-Gunnar Jonsson (SWE) 8. Sakrapee Thongsari/Pramote Teerawiwatana (THA) 9. Yoo Yong Sung/Kim Dong Moon (KOR) 10. Soo Beng Kiang/Tan Kim Her (MAS) 11. Kang Kyung Jin/Ha Tae Kwon (KOR) 12. Anderij Antropov/Nikolaj Zuev (RUS) 13. Chris Hunt/Simon D. Archer (ENG) 14. Michael Sogaard/Henrik Svarrer (DEN) 15. Nick Ponting/Julian A. Robertson (ENG) 16. Tao Xiaqiang/Ge Cheng (CHN) 17. Anil Kaul/Iain Sydie (CAN) 18. Peter Blackburn/Paul Staight (AUS) 19. Eddy Clarisse/Stephan Beeharry (MRI) Reserves: 1. Michael Keck/Michael Helber (GER) 2. Suripool Siripong/Sudhisodhi Khunakorn (THA) 3. Chan Siu Kwong/He Tim (HKG) 4. Svetoslav Stojanov/Michail Popov (BUL) 5. Uwe Ossenbrink/Kai Mittledorf (GER) 6. Damian Plawecki/Robert Mateusiak (POL) 7. Vitalij Shmakov/Mikail Korchouk (BLR) 8. Tony Tuominen/Mikael Segercrantz (FIN) 9. Fumihiko Machida/Shinji Bito (JPN) 10. Kevin Han/Tom Reidy (USA) WOMEN'S DOUBLES 1. Gil Young Ah/Jang Hye Ock (KOR) 2. Ge Fei/Gu Jun (CHN) 3. Quin Yiyuan/Tang Yongshu (CHN) 4. Helene Kirkegaard/Rikke Olsen (DEN) 5. Julie J. Bradbury/Joanne G. Wright (ENG) 6. Chen Ying/Peng Xingyong (CHN) 7. Lisbet Stuer-Lauridsen/Marlene Thomsen (DEN) 8. Eliza/Rosiana Zelin (INA) 9. Kim Mee Hyang/Kim Shin Young (KOR) 10. Lotte Olsen/Ann Jorgensen (DEN) 11. Tomomi Matuso/Masako Sakamoto (JPN) 12. Lili Tampi/Finarish (INA) 13. Park Soo Yun/Chung Jae Hee (KOR) 14. Joanne Muggeridge/Kelly Morgan (ENG/WAL) 15. Katrin Schmidt/Kerstin Ubben (GER) 16. Denyse Julien/Sian Deng (CAN) 17. Rhona Robertson/Tammy Jenkins (NZL) 18. Linda French/Erika Von Heiland (USA) 19. Martine DeSouza/M.J. Pierre (MRI) Reserves: 1. Elena Rybkhina/Marina Yakusheva (RUS) 2. Eline Coene/Erica van den Heuvel (NED) 3. Aiko Miyamura/Akiko Miyamura (JPN) 4. Diana Koleva/Neli Nedjalkova (BUL) 5. Maria Bengtsson/Margit Borg (SWE) 6. Chen Li-Chin/Tsai Huey-Min (TPE) 7. Moira Ong/Elma Ong (CAN) 8. Rhonda Cator/Amanda Hardy (AUS) 9. Plungwech Pornsawan/Boonyarti Plernta (THA) 10. Silvia Albrecht/Santi Wibowo (SUI) MIXED DOUBLES 1. Park Joo Bong/Ra Kyung Min (KOR) 2. Trikus Heryanto/Minarti Timur (INA) 3. Liu Jianjun/Sun Man (CHN) 4. Kim Dong Moon/Gil Young Ah (KOR) 5. Simon D. Archer/Julie J. Bradbury (ENG) 6. Tao Xiaoqiang/Wang Xiaoyuan (CHN) 7. Michael Sogaard/Rikke Olsen (DEN) 8. Chen Xingdong/Peng Xingyong (CHN) 9. Jan-Eric Antonsson/Astrid Crabo (SWE) 10. Nick Ponting/Joanne G. Wright (ENG) 11. Ron Michels/Erica van den Heuvel (NED) 12. Michael Keck/Karen Stechmann (GER) 13. Nimpele Flandy/Rosalina Riseu (INA) 14. Christian Jakobsen/Lotte Olsen (DEN) 15. Paul Stevenson/Amanda Hardy (AUS) 16. Darryl Yung/Denyse Julien (CAN) 17. Kayode Akinsanua/Obiageli Olorunsola (NGR) Reserves: 1. Peter Axelsson/Catrine Bengtson (SWE) 2. Jens Eriksen/Helene Kirkegaard (DEN) 3. Nikolaij Zuev/Marina Yakusheva (RUS) 4. He Tim/Chan Oi Ni (HKG) 5. Kai Mittledorf/Katrin Schmidt (GER) 6. Peter Blackburn/Rhonda Cator (AUS) 7. Vladislav Druzchenko/Victoria Evtoushenko (UKR) 8. Norio Imai/Masako Sakamoto (JPN) 9. Chan Siu Kwong/Tung Chau Man (HKG) 10. Seiichi Watanabe/Tomomi Matuso (JPN) Biographies on the U.S. Olympic Badminton players: KEVIN HAN Height: 6-2 Weight: 180 Birthdate: 11/25/72 (Shanghai, China) Hometown: Colorado Springs, Colo. Current Residence: Colorado Springs, Colo. Event(s): Men's Singles, Men's Doubles (partner: Tom Reidy) INTERNATIONAL: 1995 Bulgarian Open, men's doubles champion (partner: Tom Reidy), men's singles runner-up (first time U.S. team has ever won an IBF World Grand Prix Event)... 1995 Pan American Games silver medalist, men's doubles (partner: Tom Reidy) and bronze medalist, men's singles... Member 1993 and 1995 U.S. World Championship teams - reached round of 32 in men's singles in '95... Member, 1995 Sudirman Cup team... 1995 Yonex U.S. Open - reached of 16 in men's singles... Member, 1992, 1994, and 1996 U.S. Thomas Cup teams... 1994 U.S. Open - upset and Indonesian player to advance to men's singles quarterfinal, men's doubles quarterfinalist (partner: Andy Chong). INTERNATIONAL RANK: Men's singles - 55, Men's doubles - 39 (partner: Tom Reidy) (As of April 1, 1996). NATIONAL: 1996 men's doubles champion, men's singles runner-up (partner: Tom Reidy)... 1994-95 U.S. men's singles champion... U.S. men's doubles runner-up, 1993-95 (partner: Andy Chong)... Triple crown winner, 1992 U.S. Junior Nationals... USOF - '95: men's doubles gold medalist (partner: Tom Reidy), men's singles silver medalist. 1995 CLASSICS: Manhattan Beach Classic - men's singles champion, men's doubles runner-up (partner: Andy Chong)... Mid-Atlantic Classic - men's singles runner-up, men's doubles champion (partner: Tom Reidy). MISCELLANEOUS: USBA male athlete of the year 1994-95... Current resident at the U.S. Olympic Training Center... Years on National Team: 1993-95... Also plays basketball... Trained in China summer 1993 and summer 1994...Upon arrival to the U.S., worked as a delivery boy for a Chinese restaurant in downtown Manhattan... Competed on the European Circuit with the Aura Badminton Club in Malmo, Sweden, from August 1995 to March 1996. LINDA FRENCH Height: 5-4 Weight: 120 Born: 3/4/64 (oak Park, Ill.) Hometown: Elmhurst, Ill. Current Residence: Colorado Springs, Colo. Event(s):Women's Doubles (partner: Erika Von Heiland) INTERNATIONAL: Competed in singles and doubles at 1992 Olympic Games in Barcelona, Spain (defeated in second round by eventual bronze medalist, and in round of 32 in doubles)... '95 Pan American Games bronze medalist, women's doubles (partner: Erika Von Heiland) and mixed doubles (partner: Mike Edstrom)... '95 Bermuda International runner-up, women's doubles (partner: Erika Von Heiland)... '95 Puerto Rican Open women's singles and doubles champion (partner: Kathy Zimmerman)... On 1985, 1987, 1989, 1991, 1993 World Championships teams... Member of 1986, 1988, 1990, 1992, 1994, 1996 U.S. Uber Cup teams... 1992 Austrian Open women's doubles semifinalist (partner: Joy Kitzmiller)... 1992 French Open women's doubles quarterfinalist (partner: Joy Kitzmiller)... 1991 Pan American Badminton Championships women's doubles runner up (partner: Joy Kitzmiller)... 1988 Iceland Open women's doubles champion (partner: Pam Batungbacal)... 1987 Winnipeg Open mixed doubles champion (partner: Anil Kaul)... 1990 U.S. Open women's doubles semifinalist (partner: Erika Von Heiland)... Ranked Internationally as high as 23rd in doubles with Kitzmiller in 1992 and as high as 29th in women's doubles with Von Heiland this season... 1994 Canadian Open - women's double quarterfinalist (partner: Kathy Zimmerman), mixed doubles quarterfinalist (partner: Kevin Han)... 1994 U.S. Open - women's doubles round of 16 (partner: Huang Hua), mixed doubles round of 16 (partner: Andy Chong). INTERNATIONAL RANK: Women's doubles - 38 (partner: Erika Von Heiland), (as of April 1, 1996) NATIONAL: Five-time U.S. women's doubles champion, 1986-87 (partner: Nina Lolk); 1988-89 (partner: Linda Safarik-Tong); 1992 (partner: Joy Kitzmiller)... Seven-time U.S. mixed doubles champion, 1987-88 (partner: Chris Jogis); 1989 (partner: Tariq Wadood); 1992-95 (partner: Andy Chong)... USOF - '95: mixed doubles gold medalist (partner: Ben Lee), women's doubles semifinalist (partner: Erika Von Heiland), member of gold medal winning East team... USOF - '93: women's singles bronze, women's doubles gold medalist (partner: Erika Von Heiland)... USOF - '91: women's singles gold medalist, women's doubles gold medalist (partner: Joy Kitzmiller)... USOF - '89: women's singles bronze, women's doubles gold medalist (partner: Linda Safarik-Tong)... Holds USOF badminton record for most overall medals won by a female (8). 1995 CLASSICS: Manhattan Beach Classic - mixed doubles champion (partner: Andy Chong)... Mid-Atlantic Classic - women's doubles runner up (partner: Erika Von heiland), mixed doubles champion (partner: Andy Chong). MISCELLANEOUS: Currently a full-time athlete at the U.S. Olympic Training Center... Years on National Team: 1985-95... USBA female Athlete of the Year, 1989, 1993 and 1994... San Diego Hall of Champions "Star of the Month," December 1993... Sister Ann and brother Martin are also national level players... Graduated from University of San Diego Law School, December 1993... Enjoys reading and tennis... Employed by Colorado Springs Sports Corporation. ERIKA VON HEILAND Height: 5-3 Weight: 123 Born: 12/24/65 (Angeles City, Philippines) Hometown: Anaheim, Calif. Current Residence: Colorado Springs, Colo. Event(s): Women's singles, Women's Doubles (partner: Linda French) INTERNATIONAL: Competed in singles at 1992 Olympic Games in Barcelona, Spain, defeated in round of 64... '95 Pan American Games bronze medalist, women's doubles (partner: Linda French)... '95 Bermuda International Open runner-up, women's doubles (partner: Linda French)...On 1989, 1991, 1993 World Champions teams... Member 1990, 1992, and 1996 U.S. Uber Cup teams... Ranked internationally as high as 77 in women's singles and 29th in women's doubles with French this season. INTERNATIONAL RANK: Women's singles - 95, Women's doubles 38 (partner: Linda French) (as of April 1, 1996). NATIONAL: Women's doubles semifinalist, 1995 Nationals (partner: Linda French)... Third place in women's singles, 1992 and 1993 Nationals... USOF - '95: women's doubles semifinalist (partner: Linda French), women's singles semifinalist... USOF - '93: women's singles and doubles champion (partner: Linda French). 1995 CLASSICS: Mid-Atlantic Classic - women's doubles runner up (partner: Linda French). MISCELLANEOUS: Currently trains full-time at U.S. Olympic Training Center... Selected to participate in USOC's Project Gold workshops to enhance involvement of qualified women and minorities in leadership roles within the U.S. Olympic Movement... Works for The Home Depot through the Olympic Job Opportunities Program (started Sept. 6, 1994)... Years on National Team: 1988-95... Was ranked no. 2 in Philippines for U-16 girls in tennis... After 1992 Olympics she went back to college to finish justice studies degree from Arizona State University in 1994 (graduated Magna Cum Laude)... Awarded "Wings of Gold" as ASU female athlete with highest GPA... Has underwent five extensive knee surgeries... First tried badminton at age 17 -- she got tired of waiting for a tennis court to open up at her club, so she tried badminton to kill time, and has been playing the sport ever since. Feature story ideas on the U.S. Olympic Badminton players: KEVIN HAN Kevin Han came to the United States in 1989 from his native Shanghai, China with the dream of someday competing for the U.S. as an Olympic badminton player. With no money or education however, Han was forced to put the badminton racquet away for more than a year-and-a-half, as he worked as a bus/delivery boy for different Chinese restaurants to make ends meet. "I made deliveries to some dark neighborhoods by bike that were pretty far away. I couldn't speak English very well, and in the big city it was all very hard for me." As things began to settle financially however, Han found more time for badminton. He won a few minor tournaments in New York, and was eventually noticed by current U.S. Badminton Association President Diane Cornell. The rest, as they say, was history, as Cornell in 1991 introduced Han to the USBA's training program at the U.S Olympic Education Center in Marquette, Mich. After leaving Marquette for training stints in Chicago and New York, Han's skills grew strong enough to earn him a spot on the USBA's Resident Athlete Training team in Colorado Springs in January 1995. With a consistent training and coaching schedule, Han's rise to success has been extraordinary. His world ranking in singles has skyrocketed from 82nd in May 1995, to 36th as of January 1996, at the end of the qualification period he was ranked 55th. He is also currently ranked 30th in the world in men's doubles with partner Tom Reidy (Tempe, Ariz.). Han and Reidy made U.S. badminton history in October 1995 by winning the Bulgarian Open. This marked the first time a U.S. team had ever won an IBF World Grand Prix event. In August, Han moved to Sweden to train with some of Europe's best at the Aura Badminton Club in Malmo. His ultimate goal is to medal at the 1996 Olympics. "I've got a shot. There are no guarantees, but I have the confidence to do it. It may be another 20-30 years before U.S. badminton medals in the Olympics, but anything is possible," Kevin said. LINDA FRENCH The sport of badminton is synonymous with the French family, as siblings Linda, Ann, and Marty are all elite players. Although Ann and Marty have accomplished a great deal in the sport, neither has come close to matching Linda's accomplishments. She began her illustrious career in Elmhurst, Ill., winning 3 Illinois State High School badminton titles in the late seventies and early eighties. Since then, the badminton titles have been more than plentiful, as she has won a total of 12 national badminton titles since 1986. Her career hit its pinnacle in 1992 when she competed in singles and doubles at the 1992 Olympic Games in Barcelona. After losing in the first round to the eventual bronze medalists, Linda planned on taking a few months off from badminton to re-evaluate her future plans. Her love for the sport was just too strong to hang up the racquet however, and four years later with law degree in hand, she has found herself in the Olympic Field once again, competing in women's doubles French is currently ranked 38th in the world in women's doubles with partner Erika Von Heiland (Anaheim, Calif.). ERIKA VON HEILAND In 1983, the seventeen year old Erika Von Heiland was a frustrated member of the Philippine junior national tennis team. "I was ranked 10th in the country in tennis and wasn't good enough to cut it," said Von Heiland. Then one day Von Heiland decided to give badminton a try, just to kill time, and the sport has been her true love ever since. She made the Philippine National badminton team, and represented the country internationally from 1983-1985. Then disaster struck as Von Heiland suffered two serious knee injuries before her migration to the U.S. in 1985. She laid off the sport for three years, and got seriously involved in bodybuilding, which greatly strengthened her knees. A trip back to the Philippines in 1988 rekindled Von Heiland's badminton career, as she stepped back onto the court free of pain. From that point on, Von Heiland's fortunes have taken an upswing. In 1989, she made the U.S. National Team, and shortly thereafter received a scholarship to play badminton at Arizona State University. Then Von Heiland made the very difficult decision in 1991 to forgo the final year of her scholarship to pursue her Olympic Dreams. In January 1992, it appeared those dreams had little chance of being realized, as the USBA cut her funding for qualifying. But instead of quitting, Von Heiland took out a loan and finished the Olympic qualifying process. "I was 99.9% sure I didn't make it," noted Von Heiland. But on May 1, 1992, the impossible happened as she qualified for the 1992 Olympic Games in Barcelona. After a round of 64 loss to the Pan American Champion in Barcelona, Von Heiland is going to give the Olympics another shot, competing in both singles and doubles with partner Linda French (Elmhurst, Ill.). (FOR MORE INFORMATION, PLEASE CONTACT PAUL PAWLACZYK, USBA COMMUNICATIONS DIRECTOR AT 719-578-4808, E-MAIL: USBA1996@aol.com)