MEN'S DOUBLES SHOWDOWN CONFIRMED AT KONICA CUP

Gong Zhichao (LS-CHN)

JAKARTA: August 23, 1999

A narrow margin separates current #1 Men's Doubles players Ha Tae Kwon/Kim Dong Moon of Korea from former world #1 players Candra Wijaya/Tony Gunawan of Indonesia this week on the JVC Asian Badminton Rankings and a showdown between the two pairs has been confirmed at the Konica Cup next week in Singapore. As the Konica Cup is the last event on this year's JVC Asian Badminton Rankings qualification, victory at the event will secure the #1 position for either of the two Men's Doubles pair and also will secure them the top seed at the JVC Asian Badminton Championships to be held in Kuala Lumpur from September 15 - 19.

The fight for the Men's Doubles title is the closest out of all the categories for top positions on the JVC Asian Badminton Rankings. However, the race in the Ladies' Doubles category is also heating up with World Champions Ge Fei/Gu Jun from China (currently in the #1 position) losing ground to second place compatriots Huang Nanyan/Yang Wei. Ha Tae Kwon and Ge Fei are the two competitors who have a chance of finishing on top in two categories as Ha is on top in both Men's Doubles and Mixed Doubles while Ge Fei is currently leading the Ladies' Doubles and in second place in the Mixed Doubles category.

Today, JVC announced that 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.