FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
June 27, 1996

DAILY U.S. BADMINTON OLYMPIC PRESS RELEASE - 22 Days 'til the Games
HAN PASSES ON BASKETBALL TO EXCEL IN BADMINTON

(COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo.) - As the old saying goes, "Mother Knows
Best."  But did she really?  At age 12 living in his native Shanghai,
China, Kevin Han (Colorado Springs, Colo.) didn't think so.

"I played basketball in elementary school, but my mom thought there
was a better future for me in badminton."

Badminton?

In America, where sports like basketball and baseball rule the roost,
the idea appears absolutely ludicrous.  But in China, where badminton
superstars are seen in newspapers and television every week, think
again.

Han, listened to his mother (as a good son should), and enrolled in
the Chinese Sports Institute of Technology.  There he and other
promising young badminton stars lived and trained four hours per day,
with the hope of one day representing their country at the Olympic
Games.  

At age 17 however, Kevin grew restless in his native land, and decided
to join his father in the U.S., the so called "Land of Opportunity."

But opportunity didn't exactly come rapping at Han's door when he
arrived , as he found few places and little time play the sport he
loved.  With no money and speaking limited English, Han was forced to
deliver groceries by bicycle to some pretty unwelcoming neighborhoods
in downtown Manhattan, N.Y.  

"In the beginning, it was all very hard for me," said Han.

Then one fateful day a friend from church introduced him to the
Columbia University Badminton Club, where he dusted off his racket and
caught the eye of the United States Badminton Association (USBA).

From that point on it has been, as they say, "history."

Following  training stints Marquette, MI, Palos Heights, Ill, and
Miller Place, NY, Han finally landed in January 1995 at the USBA's
Resident Athlete Program in Colorado Springs, Colo.

There he elevated his game to a new level, and following a successful
1995-96 Olympic Qualifying period, has found himself in the men's
singles draw at the 1996 Olympic Games.

Not only will the Olympics be the biggest competition of Han's life,
it will also be a reunion of sorts, as three former junior teammates
from China [Dong Jiong (IBF #4), Tao Xiaqiang/Ge Cheng (IBF #18)] will
join him at the XXVIth Olympiad.

"Tao and Ge are very close friends of mine," said Han.  They even call
my mother (who still resides in China) once a month to make sure she
is doing O.K.  I'm really looking forward to seeing them again."

And why shouldn't Han make sure his mother is well taken of.  After
all, isn't she the one responsible for it all?

(FOR MORE INFORMATION, PLEASE CONTACT PAUL PAWLACZYK, USBA
COMMUNICATIONS DIRECTOR AT 719-578-4808,  AFTER JULY 6TH IN ATLANTA
GA. - 1-800-946-4646, PIN 2004333)