TOP SEEDS UNCHANGED AFTER THAILAND OPEN

JAKARTA: July 16, 1999
After another exciting week of action at the Thailand Open in Bangkok, the top positions on the JVC Asian Badminton Rankings remain unchanged. However, the competition to finish the season on top of the rankings and claim the #1 seed at the JVC Asian Badminton Championships is heating up in some categories and will be decided after the Konica Cup in Singapore next month. Most of the world’s top players are planning to attend the Konica Cup, so all eyes will be on Singapore to see who will complete the JVC Asian Badminton Rankings season on top. Chen Gang of China is back in top form after a Men’s Singles victory in Thailand last week while Malaysian ace, Yong Hock Kin, falls out of the top ten. On the Ladies’ Singles side, Dai Yun continues her consistent play through her Thailand Open crown while the young Indonesian Lidya Djaelawijaya breaks into the top ten for the first time this year. The Men’s Doubles showdown looks to be between current #1 players Candra/Tony of Indonesia and the #2 Korean pair of Kim/Ha, both of whom are planning to make an appearance at the Konica Cup. The Ladies’ Doubles and Mixed Doubles titles seem to be already in hand for Ge Fei/Gu Jun of China and Kim Dong Moon/Ra Kyung Min of Korea respectively as their leads at this point are insurmountable.

Top finishers on the JVC Asian Badminton Rankings will qualify for prizes from JVC to be awarded at the 1999 JVC Asian Badminton Championships in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia on September 15, 1999. The ranking points are derived from the IBF’s official world rankings which are released weekly on Thursday morning at 10:00 GMT.

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