FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE July 21, 1996 TEAM USA OLYMPIC BADMINTON SCHEDULE AND PREGAME NOTES (ATLANTA, Ga.) - The following is Team USA's schedule and opening round preview for the 1996 Olympic badminton competition. Wednesday, July 24 Kevin Han (USA) vs. Peter Knowles (GBR) - 10:15 a.m., Court 2 Erika Von Heiland (USA) vs. Shwu-Zen Jeng (TPE) - 8:30 p.m., Court 3 Thursday, July 25 Linda French and Erika Von Heiland (USA) vs. Lisbet-Steur-Lauridsen and Marlene Thomsen (DEN) - 2:45 p.m., Court 1 Kevin Han (Colorado Springs, Colo.) will carry America's Olympic hopes on the court when he meets Great Britain's Peter Knowles in the first round of the Olympic badminton men's singles competition. Han, the only U.S. male to qualify for the Olympic tournament, previously met the British star in the first round of the 1995 Danish Open, where he lost 17-15, 15-11. With a current world ranking of 63rd in the world, Han knows he will have his work cut out for him on the 27th ranked Knowles. "He [Knowles] is very aggressive. He hits the bird down and is always looking to attack. He is a very consistent player and I know I will have to play very well to beat him." With a victory, Han would face either Kenneth Erichsen of Guatemala (IBF #117) or Sweden's Jens Olsson (IBF #19) in the second round. With a second round victory, which would be a U.S. Olympic first, Han would meet top tournament seed Joko Suprianto (INA) in the third round. Han has already made history once this badminton season by winning the 1995 Bulgarian Open in doubles, marking the first time a U.S. individual or pair had won an International Badminton Federation World Grand Prix event. Linda French (Elmhust, Ill.) and Erika Von Heiland (Anaheim, Calif.) have an even bigger uphill battle. The history making two-time Olympians, ranked 42nd in the world, will face the 3rd ranked Danish duo of Lisbet Stuer-Lauridsen and Marlene Thomson in the first round of women's doubles Thursday. "Our goals are the same as the were before the draw was set; just to play our best, said French. Marlene is an excellent player around the net, and Lisbet is one of the most powerful players in the world. We're just going to play hard and see what happens." Von Heiland will also have her work cut our for her in the singles competition, as she (IBF #89) tangles with 47th ranked Jeng Shwu-Zen of Chinese-Taipei. "I've never played her, but I know she is extremely fast and aggressive. She plays typical Asian style, no clears or lobs, just constant pressure." The Olympic badminton competition will take place from July 24 - August 1 at the Georgia State University Sports Center. ### (FOR MORE INFORMATION, PLEASE CONTACT PAUL PAWLACZYK, USBA COMMUNICATIONS DIRECTOR VIA PAGER AT 1-800-946-4646, PIN# 2004333 OR AT THE USOC PRESS OFFICE AT 404-547-8762).