FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
MAY 25, 1996

INDONESIA SHOCKS CHINA TO REPEAT AS UBER CUP CHAMPIONS

(COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo.) - Rallied by more than 1000 flag bearing
supporters, Indonesia's women rose to the occasion and successfully
defended their Uber Cup world team title by defeating favorites China
4-1.  The victory was a rematch of the 1994 final in Jakarta, where
Indonesia also triumphed 3-2.

1992 Olympic Gold medalist Susi Susanti set the tone for the entire
competition in the first match, as she returned to true form with a
4-11, 11-5, 11-5 victory over world number one Ye Zhaoying.  Ye had
defeated Susanti in four of their previous five encounters, and things
did not look promising as she lost the first 4-11 and trailed in the
second 2-5 .  Then Susanti decided to turn up her aggressiveness,
which resulted in her winning an amazing 17 points without reply to
take the second game 11-5, and a 8-0 lead in the third.  

"We really wanted to show everyone we could win outside of Jakarta,"
said Susanti.  "I knew if I won the first match the team would be
motivated."

That motivation failed to carry over into the second match however, as
unforced errors caused Eliza and Rosiana Zelin to lose their
commanding 12-8 lead in the final game, resulting in a loss to top
ranked Ge Fei and Gu Jun 7-15, 15-8, 15-12.

Sixteen year-old sensation Mia Audina gave Indonesia a commanding 2-1
lead with 11-4, 11-6 thrashing of seventh ranked Wang Chen.  Lili
Tampi and Finarsih clinched the title for Indonesia with a 15-9, 15-10
victory over third ranked Qin Yiyuan and Tang Yongshu 15-9, 15-10.

"I am very proud to have won for my country," said Finarshi.  "We just
played the match point by point and came through."

Chinese coach Li Yongbo said that his team failed to rise to the
occasion.

"A lot of the players could not convert the big points today - it's
disappointing."

Indonesia's repeat victory kept China from winning a record sixth Uber
Cup title.  China is tied with Japan with the most overall Uber Cup
titles with five.  Indonesia and the U.S. are tied for second place
with three each.  In tomorrows Thomas Cup final, holders Indonesia
will go for a double when they take on Denmark.  The Thomas and Uber
Cups are the world men's and women's team badminton championships
respectively, held every even year.    

RESULTS - 1996 WOMEN'S UBER CUP FINALS 
(Best of 5 matches - 3 singles, 2 doubles) 

INDONESA  DEF. CHINA 4-1 (INDONESIAN NAMES FIRST)
Susi Susanti def. Ye Zhaoying 4-11, 11-5, 11-5
Eliza/Rosiana Zelin def. Ge Fei/Gu Jun 15-7, 8-15, 12-15
Mia Audina def. Wang Chen 11-4, 11-6 
Lili Tampi/Finarsih def. Qin Yiyuan/Tang Yongshu 15-9, 15-10 
Meiluawati def. Zhang Ning 11-6, 11-2

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