FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE September 17, 1996 ORANGE COUNTY BADMINTON CLUB TO HOST HONG TA SHAN U.S. OPEN; TOP PLAYERS IN THE WORLD TO VIE FOR $200,000 IN PRIZE MONEY (COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo.) - More than 130 of the world's greatest badminton stars from 21 countries will soon converge on Orange, California for the 6-star, $200,000 Hong Ta Shan U.S. Open, slated September 23-28 at the new 18-court Orange County Badminton Club. Ten Olympic medalists, including 1996 men's singles gold medalist Poul-Erik Hoyer-Larsen will battle for the $200,000 total prize purse, the largest in history for any individual badminton tournament on the International Badminton Federation's World Grand Prix circuit. Top U.S. players include 1996 Olympian Kevin Han (Colorado Springs, Colo.), 1996 National women's doubles champions Kathy Zimmerman (Denver, Colo.) and Ann French (La Jolla, Calif.), two-time women's singles champion Andrea Edstrom (Colorado Springs, Colo.), and rising singles star Howard Bach (S. San Francisco, Calif.). "Hosting a badminton event of this magnitude is a giant step forward for the sport in the U.S.," said U.S. Badminton Executive Director Dr. Cliff McPeak. "Tournament sponsor Hong Ta Shan's generous support is playing an instrumental role in promoting the sport in the United States, and around the world." The International Badminton Federation's (IBF) World Grand Prix Circuit is badminton's professional world tour established in 1985. Tournaments are rated as "stars" based on prize purses provided, ranging from a one-star $15,000 event to a six-star $165,000 event. "We are very excited about the dramatic increase in prize purse for the 1996 U.S. Open," said IBF President and International Olympic Committee member Lu Shengrong. "It demonstrates the ever increasing popularity of badminton in the United States, which is one of our major goals." The following is the event schedule for the 1996 Hong Ta Shan U.S. Open Badminton Championships: Monday, Sept. 23: Qualifying Rounds - 9 am - 10 pm - Free Admission Tuesday, Sept. 24: Grand Opening and 1st Rounds - Noon - 10 pm - $5 General Admission Wednesday, Sept. 25: 2nd & 3rd Rounds - 3 pm - 10 pm - $5 General Admission Thursday, Sept. 26: Quarter-finals - 4 pm - 10 pm - $8 General Admission Friday, Sept. 27: Semi-finals - 5 pm - 10 pm - $10 Reserved Seating Saturday, Sept. 28: Finals - 5 pm - 10 pm - $12 Reserved Seating *Students and members of the United States Badminton Association are eligible for a $2 discount for each days ticket. Tickets are available at the Orange County Badminton Club, 1432 N. Main Street in Orange, (714) 639-6222, The San Gabriel Badminton Club, 9255 Telstar in El Monte (818) 307-4650, or through the SCBA at (310) 546-2470. All media wishing to cover the event should register at the media check-in table at the Orange County Badminton Club, no credentials will be required. ### (FOR MORE INFORMATION, PLEASE CONTACT PAUL PAWLACZYK, USBA COMMUNICATIONS DIRECTOR AT 719-578-4808, E-MAIL: USBA1996@aol.com. AFTER SEPTEMBER 27, PAWLACZYK CAN BE REACHED AT 714-639-6222).