ASIAN CHAMPIONSHIPS: LAST-MINUTE SUB SURPRISES NINTH SEED

** This NEW SHUTTLENWS REPORT is presented by badminton world champions YANG YANG (1987 and 1989) and ZHAO JIAN HUA (1991) and by YANG YANG BADMINTON PRODUCTS **

September 3, 1997 (NEW SHUTTLENWS) - Ramesh Nathan of Malaysia was not listed to play in the Asian badminton championships being held in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia until yesterday when he was added to the men's singles competition together with teammate Lo Ah Heng. Nathan and Lo were put in as last minute substitutes to fill out the draw after Kyrgyzstan withdrew from the tournament at the last minute.

Not only was Nathan lucky enough to get into the tournament. He was twice lucky since he also got a first-round bye. But that was supposed to be the end of his luck, because he was slated to meet ninth seed Lin Liwen of China in the second round today.

Nathan though made the most of his opportunity. He played Lin hard in the first game until Lin wilted in the energy-sapping Malaysian heat. Nathan took the first game from the tiring Lin 17-16 and then decisively outplayed the Chinese player in the second 15-2.

In other action, top seeded men's singles player Sun Jun of China had an easy second-round match, beating Mahbubur Rab of Bangladesh 15-4 and 15-1.

(jpcf/mig)