#1 SEEDS SET FOR THE 1999 JVC ASIAN CHAMPIONSHIPS

JAKARTA: September 6, 1999

The Singaporeresults have now been tabulated and in each of the five JVC Asian Badminton Rankings categories, the #1 Asian players also hold the top position on the IBF world rankings. China and Korea have taken all of the top positions on the JVC Rankings through the September 2 deadline. This season's list of top players is similar to that of last year's. However, we have seen the emergence of some new, stars who will could challenge for the top spots in the 2000.

China has taken both of the top spots In the singles categories with Sun Jun on the Men's side and Dai Yun on the Ladies'. Sun has held the #1 position since the JVC Rankings were launched this year. Assembling an impressive string of victories through the World Championships, he had accumulated enough points to maintain his top position through the Singaporecut-off date. Dai Yun had impressive performances all year in 1999 and has emerged as the new queen of the Ladies' Singles category.

China and Korea have sealed the #1 positions in all doubles categories. Koreans Ha Tae Kwon/Kim Dong Moon took the Men's Doubles #1 position from Indonesians Candra Wijaya/Tony Gunawan despite their loss in the early rounds of the Singapore This means that Kim Dong Moon has qualified in the top spot in both Men's Doubles and Mixed Doubles. Moon and his Mixed Doubles partner, Ra Kyung Min, are the current World Champions and in 1999 they have overtaken the Chinese pairing of Ge Fei/Liu Yong as the new team to beat in the Mixed Doubles category. The unbeatable Chinese Ladies' Doubles pairing of Ge Fei/Gu Jun held off a late charge from compatriots Huang Nanyan/Yang Wei to remain on top in their category.

Throughout the 1999 season, some new faces have emerged as potential stars in their badminton categories. Dai Yun in the Ladies' Singles and Kim Dong Moon in Men's/Mixed Doubles have both proven that they are worthy of their #1 positions and are two new faces on top of the badminton world. Players to watch for next year's JVC Asian Badminton Rankings would include Taufik Hidajat of Indonesia in Men's Singles, Huang Nenyang/Yang Wei in Ladies' Doubles and Choong Tan Fook/Lee Wan Wah in Men's Doubles. All of these players came on strong at the end of the JVC Rankings season and could continue to climb the JVC Rankings for the 2000 event.

All players finishing the season in the #1 position on the JVC Asian Badminton Rankings will receive a JVC RCXZ 70 CD Portable System. This is one of JVC's top portable CD stereos which includes such specialized CD features as: CD Remote Control; CD Synchro Start Recording; 1-bit D/A Converter and Compu Play. These prizes will be given out at the JVC Asian Badminton Championships to all players finishing in the #1 position on the JVC Asian Rankings therefore qualifying them as the #1 seeded players at the JVC Asian Badminton Championships.

Issued by International Management Group, Jakarta on behalf of the Asian Badminton Confederation. If you require more information, please contact Ms. Maya Hidajat of IMG Jakarta at Tel: (62-21) 526 8038, Fax: (62-21) 526 8039 or E-mail: mhidajat.