FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
MAY 17, 1996

THOMAS CUP BADMINTON ACTION KICKS OFF IN HONG KONG 

(COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo.) - 1994 Thomas Cup champions Indonesia scored
a huge confidence builder today, as they defeated 1995 Sudirman Cup
champions (world mixed team championships) China 3-2 in the opening
round of the Thomas Cup world men's team badminton championships (Hong
Kong, May 16-26).  

1992 Olympic World gold medalist Allan Budi Kusuma saved the day for
the Indonesians, as he came back from a game down to defeat China's
Lin Liwen 14-17, 15-3, 15-5 in an 80 minute marathon to give Indonesia
the 3-2 victory.  In the second Group A match, Sweden beat a weakened
England 4-1, as several of the English players chose to stay home and
rest for the upcoming Olympic Games.

In Group B Thomas Cup action, South Korea surprised 1994 Thomas Cup
runner-up Malaysia 3-2.  Denmark blasted Hong Kong 5-0, although their
top gun Poul-Erik Hoyer-Larsen struggled with Tam Kai-Chuen, losing
the first 14-18 before winning the final two 15-9, 15-6.

The Thomas (men's team championships) and Uber (women's team
championships) Cups are the held in conjunction every even year.

RESULTS:  1996 THOMAS CUP - DAY 1 (Best of five matches - 3 singles, 2
doubles) (Round Robin Format - Top two finishers from each group will
advance to Thomas Cup semifinals.  There the top seed from Group A
will face second seed from Group B, and vice-versa).

GROUP A (China, England, Indonesia, Sweden)
Indonesia def. China 3-2
Sweden def. England 4-1

GROUP B (Denmark, Hong Kong, Malaysia, South Korea) 
South Korea def. Malaysia 3-2  
Denmark def. Hong Kong 5-0   

Also in Hong Kong today, the International Badminton Federation (IBF)
held its Annual General Meeting. There representatives from 130 member
nations gathered to discuss the status of badminton in the world, as
well as elect IBF officers, continental representatives, and other
members of the IBF council.

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(FOR MORE INFORMATION, PLEASE CONTACT PAUL PAWLACZYK, USBA
COMMUNICATIONS DIRECTOR AT 719-578-4808, E-MAIL: USBA1996@aol.com)